Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 61 (3):408-437 (2006)

DYNAMIC PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE JURASSIC

ANDEAN BASIN: PATTERN OF REGRESSION AND
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON MAIN FEATURES
J-C. VICENTE

Laboratoire de Tectonique, Université P. & M. Curie-Paris 6 Case 129, F 75252 PARIS Cedex 05, France. E-mail: vicente@lgs.jussieu.fr
disposición en alturas no cambia; early tansresion--> late regressio y vice versa
ABSTRACT
Following examination of the evolution of the Jurassic Andean retroarc basin at a global scale for the Central Andes, this paper
analyses the pattern of the regressive process, and discusses some general features concerning Andean Jurassic Paleogeography.
The early Upper Jurassic regression obeys to an exactly reverse pattern as the one evidenced for the Lower Jurassic transgressive
process. Sectors with late transgressions become those with early regressions while those with early transgressions show later
regressions. This fact may indicate that the Norte Chico Isthmus (29°S to 30°30’S) was a precociously emerged zone from the
Bajocian. This carries again a split up between the Tarapacá and Aconcagua-Neuquén basins until their complete drying up in the
Late Oxfordian following their restricted circulation. This evaporitic late stage presents great analogy with the Mediterranean
«Messinian crisis» and gives evidence of a general tectonic and magmatic control on the straits. The local transgressions observed
on the cratonic margin of the central part of these shrinking basins were due to shifting of water masses resulting from the regres-
sive process on the northern and southern margins.
Comparison between the main stages of transgression and regression allows some quantification concerning velocities of dis-
placement of coastlines, specifically lengthwise. The permanence of paleogeographic and structural features over the time argues
for an indisputable tectonic heritage. In the dynamic framework of this typical barred retroarc basin where arc magmatic activity
has contributed considerably to variation on sediment supply and changing bathymetry of the seaways connecting with the Pacific
Ocean, evidence for an assumed global eustatic cycle remains questionable or very subordinated.

Keywords: Jurassic, retroarc basin, trangression, regression, paleogeography, Andes.

itsmo de norte chico en caloviano

RESUMEN: Paleogeografía dinámica de la cuenca jurásica andina: Formas de regresión y consideraciones generales sobre los rasgos principales.
Con posterioridad al exámen de la evolución de la cuenca andina jurásica de retroarco a una escala global para los Andes Centrales,
este trabajo analiza el diseño de los procesos regresivos y discute algunos rasgos generales concernientes a la paleogeografía jurá-
sica de los Andes. La regresión jurásica superior temprana obedece a un diseño exactamente opuesto al evidenciado para los pro-
cesos transgresivos del Juràsico Inferior. Los sectores con transgresiones tardías son aquellos que tienen regresiones tempranas,
mientras aquellos con transgresiones tempranas muestran transgresiones más tardías. Este hecho puede indicar que el itsmo del
Norte Chico (29ºS a 30º30’S) fue una zona precozmente emergida desde el Bayociano. Esto produce nuevamente una separación
entre las cuencas de Tarapacá y la de Aconcagua-Neuquén hasta su completa desecación en el Oxfordiano superior continuando
una circulación restringida. Este estadío póstumo evaporítico presenta una analogía grande con la crisis messiniana del
Mediterráneo y aporta evidencia para un control tectónico y magmático en los estrechos. Las transgresiones locales observadas
en el margen cratónico de la parte central de estas cuencas en reducción fueron debidas a la migración de masas de agua resul-
tantes del proceso de regresión en los márgenes norte y sur. transgresiones locales debido a regresiones generales en Norte y Sur
La comparación entre las principales estadios de transgresión y regresión permite alguna cuantificación concerniente a las veloci-
dades de desplazamiento de las líneas de costa, en especial si longitud. La permanencia de rasgos paleogeográficos y estructura-
les a través del tiempo argumenta a favor de una herencia tectónica indisputable. En un marco dinámico de estas cuencas de retro-
arco con barreras donde la actividad del arco magmático ha contribuido considerablemnete a la variación del suministro de sedi-
mentos y a la batimetría cambiante de los paso de conexión con el Océano Pacífico, la evidencia para asumir un ciclo eustático
global permanece cuestionable o muy subordinada.
retroceso del mar sería netamente tectónico ante falta de evidencia de regresión
global.
Palabras clave: Jurásico, cuenca retroarco, trangresión, regresión, paleogeografía, Andes.

- 408 -
0004-4822/02 $00.00 + $00.50 © 2006 Asociación Geológica Argentina.

INTRODUCTION
regresion importante en early late Jura
During the early Late Jurassic, a very impor-
tant regression occurred in the Andean
RED retroarc Basin between extra-Andean
BEDS
KIMME Patagonia (43°45’S) and Northern Chile
RIDG
(21° 45’S). This regression resulted first in a
complete drying and emersion, and then,
mainly in the Kimmeridgian, in the deposi-
tion of continental red beds. So, the pur-
pose of this paper is to indicate the main
stages of this regression, to examine its
consequences on the dynamic of water
masses and to see to what extent the sea-
ways opened through the arc in the Early
se deberian Jurassic took part in that last process. The
en teoría
conservar similarity of this regressive process with the
estructuras transgressive one raises the problem of the
heredadas
desde permanence and inheritance of paleogeo-
antes
de la graphic and structural features. Further-
transgresió more, the significance of these straits as
n
potential filters for that barred basin, and in
the degree of faunal endemism, and in the
record of global eustatic cycles in a very
active magmatic setting, will be analyzed.
Finally, the obvious southward continuity
of the magmatic arc through the North
Patagonian Cordillera, together with the
paleogeographic connections between the
Chubut and Neuquén basins will be used to
reject the Dorsal del Chubut assumption.
Instead it will be accepted the notion of a
North Patagonian Transition between the
Andean and the Magallanes systems.
As for the transgressive scheme discussed
in the previous paper (Vicente 2005), we
will follow the same reasoning at basinal
scale, i.e. the starting point will be again
our study area of the High Cordillera of
San Juan and Mendoza (31°30’-33°S), and
then the discussion will be progressively
extended to the adjacent northern and
southern areas.
Figure 1 depicts the main morphostructur-
al Andean units the names of the principal
geographic regions, and the location of
paleogeographic maps included in this
paper. These maps are presented in the
stratigraphic order to provide a most
dynamic and simple paleogeographic view,
although discussion in the text reasoning
will lead often to introduce them in a dif-
ferent order.
EVOLUTION OF THE
ANDEAN BASIN DURING
THE MIDDLE AND EARLY
LATE JURASSIC: THE
REGRESSIVE PROCESS
Latitude of study area (31°30’ –33°S)
regresion en eje de cuenca por yesos OXFORDIANOS
FM AUQUILCO ES REPRESENTATIVA
The regression along the basin axis is char-
acterized by the presence of thick U-
pper Oxfordian evaporites (Principal
Gypsum=Auquilco Fm.) (cf. Fig. 4 of part
I). The underlying bituminous shales of
restricted facies have yielded, in the Alma
Negra area, an “Idoceras” (det. Covacevich)
fauna indicating the upper part of the
Upper Oxfordian. To the north the last out-
crops are at Portezuelo Yesito (31º36´S)
(see Fig. 7). Farther north, the area of
Norte Chico (31º and 26ºS), is character-
ized by the absence of evaporites and an
early regression (Jensen and Vicente 1979).
NORTE CHICO NO TIENE EVAPORITAS
REGRESION MAS TEMPRANA????
North
Norte Chico Cordilleran area (31º – 26ºS)
At the latitude of Los Pingos (30º45´S)
the regression was supposed to have
occurred in the early Callovian (Rivano
1975) in facies of red sandstones with
ripple marks, drying cracks, gypsum nod-
ules and littoral conglomerates, with rare
“Macrocephalites sp., Eurycephalites cf. rotun-
dus (Tornq.), Kamptokephalites sp.” and
Vertebrate remains. However, the upper-
most ammonites present in the Mina Los
Pingos area were later identified by
Riccardi (cf. also Hillebrandt 2002, p. 57)
as Late Bajocian Megasphaeroceras spp.
These facies represent the transition to the
Upper Jurassic red continental succes-
sions. It is only at 28º15´S, in the Manflas
area, southeast of Copiapó, where the
presence of marine lower Callovian has
been assumed on the basis of 3-4 m thick
marine limestones overlying red sand-
stones and marine Upper Bajocian with
ammonites (Hillebrandt 1973 and 1977,
Jensen et al. 1976). Definite Lower
Callovian with ammonites is present at the
latitude of Salar de Pedernales (c. 26º15´S)
(Riccardi and Westermann 1991).
In the intervening area, the distance of
HAY SECTORES EN NORTE CHICO QUE
MUESTRAN FACIES MARINAS Y OTROS LUGARES
CONTINENTALES Y LITORALES
DURANTE EL CALLOVIANO
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 409
ENTRE ELQUI Y TRANSITO LA REGRESIÓN SERIA
BAJOCIANA!!!!!!!!!
about 180 km (2º30´) between Elqui High
Cordillera to the Tránsito Cordillera, the
regression is mainly Bajocian (Fig. 2).
This can be inferred from the works of
Hillebrandt (1970, 1971, 1973 and 2002),
Westermann and Riccardi (1972 and
1979) and Hillebrandt and Westermann
(1985) although they gave little attention
to age of the regression. In these facies of
sandy calcarenites, sandstones and red
pelites, rich mainly in bivalves that grade
upwards into Upper Jurassic continental
tuffs and volcanics, Bajocian faunas are
present in the areas of Doña Ana,
Portezuelo de la Punilla and Quebrada
Pinto (Hillebrandt 1973). But it is only at
CHANCHOQUI
the latitude of Quebrada Chanchoquin N TIENE
REGISTRO
(28º45´S) that the Lower Bajocian MARINO
(Singularis and Giebeli Zones = HASTA
BAJOCIANO
Laevisucula and Sauzei Zone) is clearly TEMPRANO
indicated by Pseudotoites sphaeroceroides
(Tornq.) and Sonninia espinazitensis
Tornquist and Emileia giebeli (Gottsche)
(Hillebrandt 2002).
On the other hand, in the Manflas area
the Humphriesianum Zone is well estab- EN MANFLAS
HAY
lished by Chondroceras cf. defontii REGISTRO
BAJOCIANO
(McLearn), and the Upper Bajocian by TARDIO Y
Lupherites dehmi (Hillebrandt), L.(?) chongi CALLOVIANO
TEMPRANO
(Hillebrandt), Duashnoceras cf. caracolense
(Westermann & Riccardi), D. chilense
(Hillebrandt), D. profetaense Hillebrandt,
Teloceras (?) sp., Stephanoceras spp. and
Megasphaeroceras sp (Hillebrandt 1970,
1977 and 2002, Jensen 1976; Jensen and
Vicente, 1976; Westermann and Riccardi,
1979; Riccardi and Westermann, 1991).
The thin oolitic limestone with echinoids
that is at the top of the succession was
dated as early Callovian (Hillebrandt
1973, Jensen 1976).
Farther north, the Callovian is well devel-
oped (Fig. 2): first as a level of pink sandy
limestones with bivalves at the latitude of HAY
Río Figueroa and Quebrada La Tola CALLOVIANO
MARINO MAS
(27°14´S) (Hillebrandt 1973, Hillebrandt AL NORTE
and Westermann 1985), and immediately
to the south at Quebrada Paipote (Vega
Redonda) (27°09´S) with greenish, and
somewhat sandy, oolitic calcarenites, rich
in volcanic material and bivalves, bra-
chiopods, echinoids and Solenopora sp.
This last facies is especially well exposed
in the area of Quebrada San Andrés
410 J. C. . V I C E N T E

Figure 1: Locality map showing main Andean

morphostructural units of interest and areas
covered by paleogeographic maps included in
this paper. CR=Coast Range; CV=Central
Valley; MR=Main Range (=Principal or
Western Cordillera); Limits of Provinces
(=Departments or Regions) of Argentine,
Chile and Peru are also indicated.

ACA LA CUENCA TUVO HASTA 65 KM DE ANCHO
DURANTE EL CALLOVIANO?
(27°S) (Cisternas and Vicente 1976,
Cisternas 1977) and Chañaral Alto
(26°40´S) (Oviedo 1977) where “Reineckeia
brancoi “ (Steinmann) ) (=? Rehmannia brancoi)
suggests Early Callovian (Harrington 1961,
García 1967, Hillebrandt 1970, Pérez 1978,
Riccardi and Westermann 1991). At this lati-
tude, the basin had a width of about 65 km,
taking into account a tectonic shortening of
about 30% and that the eastern basin margin
reached 69°11´W in the La Ola area
(Cisternas 1977 and 1979).
Cordillera Domeyko area (25º40´- 24º30´S)
Marine Oxfordian begins at the southern
end of this area (Fig. 2). At the latitude of
Sierra Exploradora (25º40´-25º50´S), the
succession is only Lower Oxfordian
(Davidson and Godoy 1976, Jensen et al.
1976). But immediately to the north, begin-
ning at Quebrada Incaguasi (25º36´S), the
marine sedimentation continued almost to
the end of the Oxfordian (Hillebrandt
1970, Chong 1973, 1976 and 1977,
Naranjo and Covacevich 1979, Gygi and
Hillebrandt 1991), ending with evaporites
as in the Neuquen basin (Principal
Gypsum). At the latitude of Quebrada
Incaguasi, Hillebrandt (1970), Gygi and
Hillebrandt (1991) and Hillebrandt and
Gröschke (1995) identified the
Bimmamatum Zone in the upper levels by
Lithacosphinctes desertorum (Stehn),
Orthosphinctes cf. tiziani (Oppel), Larcheria
aff. gredingensis (Wegele), Idoceras cf.
neogaeum Burckhardt and Ochetoceras mexi-
canum (Burckhardt).
At the latitude of Sierra Candeleros
(25º25´S), Naranjo and Covacevich (1979),
also noted the probable existence of the
Planula Zone, based on the association of
Idoceras sp. and Physodoceras (?) sp. Chong
(1973, 1976 and 1977), on the other hand,
suggested that the upper levels of the
marine succession belong in the lower
Kimmeridgian, based on the presence of
“Rasenia (Prorasenia) sp., Simaspidoceras sp.,
Perisphinctes (Virgatosphinctes) sp. and
Aulacosphinctoides” in Quebrada El Profeta
of Sierra de Varas (24º59´S). Presence
of uppermost Oxfordian to Lower
Kimmeridgian in this region, with Cubaspi-
doceras cf. caribeanum Myczynski and
Orthaspidoceras sp., was confirmed by
ULTIMOS DIAS DE AGUA EN EL PROFETA
SE CARACTERIZARON POR ANOXIA PRE EVAPORITICA
ENTRE OXFORDIANO TARDÍO-KIMMERIDGIANO TEMPRANO
EN CERROS BAYOS LAS EVAPORITAS SON KIMMERIDGIANO
TEMPRANO
Förster and Hillebrandt (1984; see also
Gygi and Hillebrandt 1991). Likewise, far-
ther north, at the latitude of Cerri-
tos Bayos (22º35´S), “Aspidoceras (Orthas-
pidoceras) sp., Subneumayria (?) sp. and
Rasenia sp.” were recorded by Baeza (1976;
cf. Förster and Hillebrandt 1984), and
Cubaspidoceras sp. by Gygi and Hillebrandt
(1991) in levels underlying the evaporites,
would indicate the Lower Kimmeridgian
(Covacevich, written comm. 1975).
Summing up, these data indicate the main-
ly Early Kimmeridgian age of the
Cordillera Domeyko evaporites (Fig. 2).
Finally, we stress the typically Upper
Oxfordian features, i. e. pre-evaporitic
facies of finely laminated bituminous
shales, indicating a change to stratified
water conditions (Busson, 1978) with,
stagnant, hypersaline bottom waters.
These anaerobic conditions explain the
remarkable preservation of fishes (Biese
1961, Arratia et al. 1975a and 1975b, Baeza
1976 and 1979), marine reptiles (Biese
1961, Chong 1973 and 1977) and decapod
crustaceans (Chong and Förster 1976,
Förster and Hillebrandt 1984).
SHALES BITUMINOSOS Y AGUAS ESTRATIFICADAS
Area of Antofagasta and Tarapacá Precordillera
Farther north, the marine Oxfordian con-
tinues with the same facies of finely lami-
nated black shales at least as far as the lat-
itude of Pisagua (19º35´S). It suffices to
remember the extensive belt along the
Precordillera of Antofagasta and Tarapacá
from Sierra Moreno up to Huatacondo,
which García (1967) named Aquiuno
Formation, later (Maksaev 1978) included
in the Quinchamale Formation (cf.
Ramírez and Huete 1981, Skarmeta and
Marinovic 1981). Thus, in the eastern
slope of Sierra Moreno (21º43´S), the
marine upper levels of the Quinchamale
Formation (Maksaev 1978) yielded a
diverse Perisphinctes assemblage dating
these levels as Oxfordian. Furthermore,
marine sedimentation ends at this latitude
in the form of a notable evaporite level,
the last important occurrence at this
meridian (68º56´W). García (1967) dated
his Aquiuno Formation as (Late)
Oxfordian on the bases of ammonites
found in Quebrada de Arca (21º43´S),
Quebrada Sama (21º30´S), Quebrada
acá la sedimentación marina llega hasta el oxfordiano tardío
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 411
Sipuca-Quehuita (21º12´S; see also
Vergara 1978), and Quebrada Mani
(21º05´S; see also Muñoz Cristi 1973).
Whilst Skarmeta and Marinovic (1981)
recorded Gregoryceras sp. and Perisphinctes
s.l. (Middle Oxfordian), in the upper part OXFORDIANO
MEDIO EN
of the marine member of the QUINCHAMALE
Quinchamale Formation at the western OESTE FM
SE
slope of Sierra Moreno. This has been MORENO SIERRA
confirmed by Gröschke and Prinz (1986)
and Gröschke and Wilke (1986).
At the latitude of Quebrada Huatacondo
(20º55´S), where García (1967) defined the HUATACONDO
Aquiuno Formation, the presence of EDAD OXFORDIANA
Perisphinctes sp. supports an Oxfordian age.
The formation consists of finely laminat-
ed, calcareous turbidites, with micrites
containing spicules alternating with rede-
posited encrinites. The general analyses of
this belt by Garcia (1967) indicated a
remarkable northwards increase of the MAS MARINO
HACIA EL
marine features in this formation. This, NORTE
together with the ending of the evaporites
at about 21º43´S and, farther north, the
presence of only a few thin (maximum 10
cm) lenticular intercalations, enables us to
locate the most restricted part of the basin
SECTOR MAS
southernmost between Cerritos Bayos and RESTRINGIDO
DE LA CUENCA
Sierra de Varas. At the latitude of Cerro ENTRE
Santa Elena (23º43´S) in the Sierra CERRITOS BAYOS Y
Moreno, the gypsum is less than 20 m SIERRA DE
VARAS!!!!!!
thick (Maksaev 1978); at the latitude of
Cerritos Bayos (22º30´S) it reaches 60 m
(Baeza 1976); exceeds 100 m in the
Quebrada Los Yesos, south of Caracoles
(23º06´S) (Chong 1973); and is reduced to
100 METROS
50 m at the latitude of Quebrada Sandón DE
of Sierra de Vaquillas Altas (25º17´S); EVAPORITAS!!!!!
!!!!!
before disappearing immediately to the
south. In Sierra Candeleros and SierraNO EVAPORITAS
Santa Ana, the regression has no evapor-EN CANDELEROS NI
ites (Naranjo and Covacevich 1979).SIERRA ANA
SANTA
Summing up, the Early Kimmeridgian
evaporitic basin of the Chilean Norte CUENCA EVAPORITICA
Grande extended from 21º40´S to DEL
KIMMERIDGIAN
25º20´S, i. e. a distance of ca. 400 km. O TEMPRANO
ENTRE LOS
Finally, north of Huatacondo are three 21°40S Y LOS
more important outcrops of marine 25°20
Oxfordian, the Chacarilla Formation
(20°38’S) south of Pica and the Duplixa
Formation in the Juan de Morales area
(20º05´S) respectively described by Galli
and Dingman (1962) and Galli (1968) that
yielded diverse Perisphinctes and Arisphinctes
OXFORDIANO MARINO AL SUR DE PICA!!!!
CHACARILLA
412 J. C. . V I C E N T E

Figure 2: Main stages of the Jurassic regression at the southern end of the Tarapacá Basin.

SIGUE OXFORDIANO
(?), and the Pachica Formation at the lati-
tude of Tarapacá (19º51´S) with Perisphinctes
species (Perez 1961, Espiñeira et al. 1984;
Covacevich 1985) together with Diceras sp.
(Rudista) and “Inoceramus galoi” [= ?
Retroceramus galoi (Boehm)]. In contrast to
the southernmost facies, these formations
have well oxygenated littoral facies with
important quartzite levels at the top.
Moreover, as anticiped by Cecioni (1970)
the Pachica area has provided good paleos-
lope indicators from the east and southeast.
ESTAS FACIES ERAN MAS OXIGENADAS QUE LAS DEL SUR
CERRITOS BAYOS-HUATACONDO.
Coastal area of Iquique and Arica (20º20´ –
18º30´S)
These last outcrops are interesting because
farther west, on the eastern slope of the
BORDE ESTE
DE DE
coastal chain of Iquique and Pisagua, is a
CORDILLERA second belt of marine Oxfordian, belong-
DE COSTA
ing in fact the western basin margin. Thus it
ES MARGEN
OESTE DE is possible to estimate the width of the
LA CUENCA
Oxfordian basin at this latitude to about 75
CUENCA
OXFORDIANA
km (see Fig. 6a). The sediments consist of
TENDRÍA the upper levels of the Huantajaya
75 KM
DE ANCHO Formation (García 1967, Thomas 1970,
Silva 1972 and 1976), which, from Estación
Godo (20º20´S) to Cerro Atajaña (19º18´S),
form a subcontinuous belt of outcrops
characterized by facies of shales and finely
YESO EN laminated black marls interbedded at the
LAS PARTES
SUPERIOREStop with thin gypsum beds. An ammonite
fauna with Perisphinctes, Orthosphinctes,
Arisphinctes, Euaspidoceras, and Gregoryceras
ULTIMOS
AMMONITES was dated as Upper Oxfordian at the lati-
EN
OXFORDIANO tude of Iquique (Thomas, 1970) and, over-
TARDÍO +
PROBABLES
lain by probably Kimmeridgian with
KIMMERIDGIA Progeronia (?) and Dorsoplanites (?).The
Gregoryceras were later (Gygi and Hillbrandt
1991) included in G (G.) chongi Gygi and
OXFORDIANOHill. and G. (G.) aff. riazi, Middle
MEDIO Oxfordian. At the latitude of Quebrada
Tiviliche, the presence of “Perisphinctes”
(Orthosphinctes) sp., Kinkeliniceras sp. cf. sornay
Agrawal and Metapeltoceras sp.” could indi-
QUEBRADA
TIVILICHE cate the Upper Oxfordian (Silva 1972 and
OXFORD
TARDIO
1976). On the other hand, following
Thomas (1970) we doubt the old record by
Cecioni (1961) of Lower Tithonian
Virgatosphinctes from these levels. Revised
sections by Kossler (1998) and Hillebrandt
et al. (2000) confirm that there is no evi-
dence for Jurassic sediments younger than
Oxfordian age in the northern part of the
Chilean Coastal Cordillera.
SEDIMENTOS MARINOS MAS JOVENES EN ESTA ZONA
SON DEL OXFORDIANO, NO DEL TITONIANO!!!!
EN CALOVIANO Y BAJOCIANO HAY UN ARCO VOLCANICO MUY
CERCANO AL OESTE, INCLUSO CON TURBIDITAS PIROCLÁSTICAS
Of additional interest is the westward facies
change of Bajocian and Callovian levels of
the Huantajaya Formation into a thick suc-
cession (Caleta Ligate Formation) of vol-
canic sandstones and breccias with graded
bedding (pyroclastic turbidites) and
interbedded submarine andesitic flows
(Silva 1976, his figure 4). This indicates the
proximal presence to the west at that time
of a volcanic arc (Figs. 4a and 4b), what
confirm some paleoslope indicators
(Cecioni 1970, his figure 5).
This marine Oxfordian belt extends sub-
continuously northward up to Arica (see
Fig. 6a) and is called Los Tarros Formation
(Cecioni and García 1960, Salas et al. 1966,
Tobar et al. 1968). It consists of finely lam-
inated black shales with calcareous concre-
tions yielding Perishpinctes (Orthosphinctes)
gottschei Stehn, P. boehmi Steinm., Ochetoceras
canaliculatum (v. Buch), Gregoryceras sp. and
Progeronia (?) sp., a typically (Upper)
Oxfordian assemblage (although the last
genus could be Lower Kimmeridgian). The
specimens of Gregoryceras were later (Gygi
and Hillebrandt 1991) referred to G. (G.)
aff. riazi (De Grossouvre) and G. (G.) sp.,
Middle Oxfordian. OXFORDIANO-KIMM EN ARICA
Localized between the localities described
above are the outcrops of Quebrada Chiza
(19º 12´ S), east of Cuya. They rest on the
Cuya volcanics of the Camaraca Formation
(Salas et al. 1966, García 1967) and are over-
lain with weak unconformity by Upper
Jurassic continental conglomerates of the
Atajaña Formation. The Chiza Formation
yielded only Callovian “Macrocephalites sp.
and Reineckeia sp.” (García 1967), but their
presence at lower levels make the
Oxfordian probable. This is the case imme-
diately to the south at the latitude of Cerro
Atajaña, where the continental succession
rests on black shales with the (Upper)
Oxfordian Perisphinctes harringtoni Leanza
(Cecioni and García 1960). This unconfor-
mity also caused the Atajaña Formation to
rest on different rocks (García 1967), such
as on Andean diorites intruding into
Jurassic lavas at the latitude of Quebrada
Camarones (19º04´S), and on the Camaraca
Formation lavas (Callovian) at the latitude
of Quebrada Victor (18º46´S). The pres-
ence of some clasts of Andean diorite and
of Jurassic limestones in the basal con-
EN QUEBRADA CHIZA SE REGISTRA CALLOVIANO
PERO SE PRESUME QUE SE EROSIONÓ EL OXFORDIANO Y
PROBABLEMENTE EL KIMMERIDG
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 413
EROSIÓN DEL PALEOARCO!!!!!!
glomerate (Cecioni and García 1960) con-
firms the importance of paleoarc erosion.
Thus the coastal area differs clearly from
the Precordilleran area, mentioned above,
where the change to Kimmeridgian red
beds is gradual. EN PRECORDILLERA EL CAMBIO A RED BEDS KIMM
ES GRADUAL, EN CONTRASTE A COSTA
It remains to mention several outcrops in
the Arica interior that are assigned to the
Los Tarros Formation (Salas et al. 1966) in
the middle course of Quebrada Azapa
(Livilcar area) and of Rio Lluta (Millune
and Larancagua area). The former outcrop
has shales with calcareous intercalations
bearing Perisphinctes, the second shales and
quartzites (Montecinos 1963) in Peruvian
facies (Vicente 1981). The survey done,
together with Davidson, Fuenzalida and
Harambour (December 1984) showed:
- In the Livilcar area, black calcilutites and
shales with Aspidoceratidae (det. Covace-
vich) and Perisphinctes sp. (Muñoz et al. 1988)
are finely laminated, with thin silt levels,
suggesting distal turbidites of abyssal plain
(Td, et, ep). The facies is reminiscent of the
lower member of the Ataspaca Formation
of Tacna (Salinas 1986).
- In the Millune area (middle course of Rio
Lluta, heigth 1350 m) is a recurrence of
finely laminated black shales and siltstones
with Posidonia.sp. The succession (Millune oxfordiano en el
valle de arica
Formation of Montecinos 1963) changes hacia arriba
e incluso en el
rapidly upwards into sandstones, producing sur de peru
mediante
negative sequences typical of distal tur- correlaciones
biditic lobules before passing into volcanic estratigraficas
arenites and breccias of the overlaying turbiditas,
Saucine Formation. The Millune Formation volcanics
y abbysal plains
appears to be similar to the middle to upper en ciertos
lugares más al
members of the Peruvian Ataspaca centro de la
Formation, whilst the volcaniclastics of the cuenca
Saucine Formation indicate the facies of
the Guaneros Formation of southern
coastal Peru (Bellido and Guevara 1963,
Roperch and Carlier 1992), i. e. influx of
the coastal marine arc (Fig. 4a).
Southern Peru (18°- 16°S)
In contrast to the Chilean Norte Grande,
where marine sedimentation ended consis-
tently at the end of the Oxfordian and
passed into a characteristic continental
episode, the marine sedimentation of
southern Peru was continuous from the
Callovian to the Tithonian. The succession
consists of thick clastics with flysch fea-
al contrario de chile (oxfordiano), la sediemntación marina continuo
hasta el titoniano!!!!!1111
414 J. C. . V I C E N T E

Figure 3: Main stages of the Jurassic Regression at the southern end of the Neuquén Basin.

grupo yura, en cuenca de arequipa
SEDIMENTACIÓN CALLOVIANA-OXFORDIANA
tures (Vicente 1981, Vicente et al. 1982).
This is the famous Yura Group, which is
especially well developed in the Arequipa
region (Jenks 1948, Benavides 1962,
Vargas 1970, Vicente et al. 1979, Vicente
1981 and 1989; Vicente et al. 1982) and
whose southermost outcrops are just
across the Chilean border, northeast of
Tacna in the Pachía and Palca area (Wilson
and García 1962), and less than 50 km
north of the Chilean Rio Lluta outcrops.
In the Pachía and Palca area, the Upper
Jurassic marine succession (Ataspaca
Formation) consists of a more than 1000
m thick, fine-grained alternation of
graywackes and shales, which in the lower
levels have yielded a Callovian fauna of
Macrocephalitidae and Reineckeia sp. as
well as an Oxfordian fauna with
Perisphinctes spp. (Wilson and García
1962). A preliminary sedimentological
analyses of this formation implies a typi-
cally prograding turbiditic succession
TRANSICION(Salinas 1986), with a progressive change
DE FACIES
TURBIDITAS
from finely laminated marls, typical of
DSITALES distal turbidites of abyssal plains or exter-
ABISALES
nal margins of turbiditic fans (Td, e), to
A CANALES
LOBULOS more sandy facies, similar to lobule
SUBMARINOS|
deposits from intermediate to middle-fan
distributary channels.
In summary, the analysis of the Yura
Group in the Arequipa area (16º - 17ºS)
(Vicente et al. 1982), the Bathonian-
Callovian Puente Formation consists
mainly of turbiditic sequences related to
the prograding of a submarine fan (León
1981). The paleocurrent and paleoslope
directions (Vicente 1981), and the facies
GEOMETRIA
NW PROXIMALchanges with proximal successions NW of
A SE DISTAL
Arequipa (Yura area) and distal succes-
DE FACIES sions in the SE (Chapi area) (Chavez
1982), place the deeper part of the basin
towards the SE (Vicente 1981, Vicente et
al. 1982, Beaudouin and Vicente 1986)
(see Fig. 5). The Pachia-Palca outcrops
thus represent the more distal part of the
system. Progradation to the SE is fairly
evident as the facies, characteristic of
middle-fan deposits, are mostly Bathonian
at the latitude of Arequipa (Puente
Formation) and Oxfordian at the latitude
of Tacna (lower member of Ataspaca
Formation) (Beaudoin and Vicente 1986).
This raises the problem of southward
MEDIO ABANICO EN BATHONIANO EN AREQUIPA
Y OXFORDIANO EN TACNA
SE PIENSA QUE HUBO UNA ZONA ESPECIALMENTE PROFUNDA
ENTRE TACNA Y ARICA (FORMA DE DEDO) QUE CONECTABA
AMBAS CUENCAS, FACIES SE PROFUNDIZAN AL SUR DE TACNA PERO
LA REGRESION EN ARICA ES OXFORDIANA---> DEPOCENTRO LOCAL?
EN CHILE EL OXFORDIANO ESTA MARCADO POR
UNA REGRESION MASIVA
DURANTE OXFORDIANO LA CUENCA DE TARAPACA SE
CARACTERIZA POR SER EVAPORÍTICA, MIENTRAS QUE LA
DE AREQUIPA ES CLÁSTICA
progression in basin evolution and of
basin connection with the Chilean Norte
Grande, where the end of the Oxfordian
(see Fig. 6a) is marked by a regression.
According to that hypothesis a zone of
greatest subsidence must be located just
south of Tacna (18ºS) and then a progres-
sive reduction in depth of the basin
should be observed between the latitudes
of Arica (18º30´S) and Pisagua (19º35´S)
before a “finger” ending in the
Kimmerigian. Consequently, a more
detailed study of the transitional region
located between Pachia-Palca (17º45´S)
and Quebrada Chiza (19º15´S) is needed.
We expect to find a regression that
became progressively younger to the
north and transitional features between
the evaporitic basin of Tarapacá and the
clastic basin of Arequipa.
The scarceness of outcrops and underes-
timation of Late Cretaceous tectonics in
northernmost Chile inhibit interpretation.
We know that in southern Peru Andes
shortening largely increases so that, just
beyond the frontier, the huge northeast-
ward overthrusting of the Arequipa mas-
sif appears to be present (Vicente 1989).
This is supported by the tectonic window
observed in Palpa (Vicente 1989, his fig-
ure 9) which shows that the volcanic arc
widely overthrusts the retroarc basin and
overprints it. Probably that thrust may
continue into northernmost Chile.
Likewise, in the North, at latitude of
Aplao (16°S) northwest of Arequipa, the
noticeable truncation represented on our
Figure 6a may be tectonic. Another pale-
ogeographic problem is that in southern-
most Peru and in northernmost Chile
where the Jurassic volcanic arc is in part
submarine so that it becomes hard to dif-
ferentiate between intra-arc basins and
the very insular margin of the retroarc. A
good example is the striking cross-sec-
tion of the Azapa canyon, down stream
of Livilcar, where the counterpart of
the Junerata Formation of Palpa
(=Chocolate Formation of Arequipa)
consists of thick pyroclastic turbidites
and submarine lava flows. Moreover,
these reconstructions must not neglect
the extreme fluctuation in time and space
of the volcanic activity.
EN ZONA DE AZAPA HAY PROBLEMAS PARA DELIMITAR ANCHO
Y PROMINENCIA DEL ARCO VOLCANICO SOBRE EL NIVEL DEL MAR
HAY TURBIDITAS PIROCLASTICAS Y LAVAS EN FLUJOS SUBMARINOS
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 415
Central Peru (14°- 11°S)
At this latitude there was again an early
regression, mainly during the Bajocian. This al norte de
implies the location of the northern end of arequipa se
acaba cuenca
the Arequipa basin and the presence to the homónima, hay
facies
north of a large continental area, whose continentales
weathering contributed to the clastic sedi- regresión
mentation (Fig. 4a). The marine Bajocian comienza en
bajociano
outcrops barely reach beyond Huancayo
huancayo es
(12º04´S) and belong to the limestones of altura de lima
en longitud
the Chunumayo Formation which, at the
classic locality of southern Huancavelica,
yielded a fauna of Sonninia cf. espinazitensis
Tornq. typical of the lower Bajocian (Sauzei
Zone) (Westermann et al. 1980). Farther
north a rapid change occurs to sandy facies al norte
tenemos facies
(Cercapuquio Formation) (Mégard 1978). arenosas
Beyond that, Neocomian quartzites y más al norte
cuarcitas
(Goyllarisquizga Formation) rest uncon- neocomianas
en disc
formably on the Lower Jurassic. angular con el
jurasico
Towards the south, the regression becomes temprano
younger. Thus, 100 km south of
Chunumayo, at the latitude of Rio Pumani regresión es
(13º43´S) of the Paras region, marine facies mas joven hacia
el sur,
persist to the Late Bajocian as shown by the bajociano
tardío-calloviano
assemblage of Leptosphinctes (“Cobbanites”)
cf. talkeetnanus (Imlay) and Spiroceras orbigny
(Baugier & Sauze) collected by Westermann
et al. (1980). Sixty kilometers to the south-
east, in the Paire region (13º51´S) of the
Querobamba geological map, Lower
mas al sur es
Callovian limestones with Eurycephalites cf. calloviano
boesei Burck.resemble, according to
Guevara, the Gramadal Formation of
Arequipa (in Westermann et al. 1980). hay regresiones
tithonianas?
Considering that this formation is Lower 2do subetapa?
Tithonian at the latitude of Arequipa
(Chavez 1982), diachronism is evident. This
problema de
also shows the need for a detailed biostrati- diacronismo
graphic and sedimentologic study of the
Yura Group in that intermediate region.
The Chalhuanca area (14º18´S) appears
especially suitable, as here the Yura Group
has facies comparable to the Arequipa
region (Pecho 1981) and biostratigra-
phic information suggests the presence facies marinas
callovianas,
of marine Callovian, Oxfordian and oxfordianas y
tithonianas.
Tithonian. Furthermore, it may be possible kimmeridgiano?
???
at this latitude to relate, within a mainly lon-
gitudinal feeding context, a deep-turbiditic turbiditas y
system with fluvio-deltaic contributions fluvio
deltaicos
coming from the Sarayaquillo continental viniendo de
cuenca
basin (Fig. 4a). This basin, an extension of continental
de saraquillo
the Arequipa marine basin, is the only one
posible canal a mar abierto????
SARAYAQUILLO ES PROLONGACION
CONTINENTAL DE LA CUENCA DE AREQUIPA
416 J. C. . V I C E N T E

Figure 4a: Early Callovian paleogeography and facies distribution of the Arequipa-Tarapacá Basin.
 Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 417

Figura 4b: Isolation of the Aconcagua-

Neuquén and Tarapacá basins in the Early
Callovian following the emergence of the
Norte Chico Isthmus.
 REGRESIÓN OCURRE A LO LARGO DE APROX 26 M.A
ES 6 VECES MAS LENTA QUE TRANSGRESIÓN, NO FUE SOLO EVAPORITICA
418 J. C. . V I C E N T E YA QUE LOCALMENTE FUE TRANSGRESIVA---> FUERTE DESPLAZAMIENTO DE AGUA!!!!
MAR CALLOVIANO EVENTUALMENTE "REBOTÓ" Y LLEGO HASTA MAS ALLA DEL MAR BAJOCIANO
EN EL NORTE CHICO Y HASTA LA REGIÓN DEL ACONCAGUA

CALLOVIANO EN SIERRA DE VARAS

KIMMERIDGIANO TEMPRANO---> SUR DE SIERRA DE VARAS

that could have provided the quantity of
clastics of cratonic origin for the sedimen-
tation of the Yura Group. This relationship,
already inferred by Mégard (1978) with
regard to the Chunumayo and lower
Sarayaquillo deposits, and illustrated by
Westermann et al. (1980, fig. 9), is very
sistema de llenado important for paleogeographic inferences.
longitudinal desde el
nnw desde sayaquillo
It implies a longitudinal filling system of
a cuenca de arequipathe Arequipa basin from the NNW, quite
similar to that of the Persian Gulf by the
Mesopotamian plain, but under more
humid conditions as indicated by the abun-
dance of plant remains in the Yura Group
of the Chalhuanca region (Pecho 1981).
The apparent absence of Sarayaquillo facies
in the Subandean region farther south is
also relevant here, because it would justify a
study of paleochannels in the Sarayaquillo
Group. This may help to differentiate
between lateral and longitudinal prove-
nances and to better assess the importance
and meaning of the emergence of central
Peru in relation to the Nevadian move-
ments (Vicente 1982).
The main regressional stages: Norte
Chico Isthmus and Tarapacá Basin
Based on the previous analysis, we conclud-
- Late Oxfordian: immediately south of tuffaceous sandstones, conglomerates and
Quebrada Incahuasi (25º36´S); andesitic flows, sometimes submarine,
- Early Kimmeridgian: close to 25ºS, i. e. on which characterize the western slopes of
the southern end of Sierra de Varas. Sierra Exploradora (Davidson and Godoy
In summary, the northwards regression 1976) and Sierra Candeleros (Naranjo and
occurred over ca. 430 km (3º52´S) during Covacevich 1979) and also the Cerro Islote,
26 Ma, which implies an average rate of west of Sierra de Varas (Chong 1973)
EnnEn
regression in the order of 1.6 cm/y. From (24º55´S). margen
oeste de
the comparison of this rate with the 9 cm/y In conclusion, the western basin margin, cuenca con
transgression rate, the regression was slow- more than 650 km long (24º55´ - 30º45´S), actividad
volcánica
er by a factor of 6. However, it is not pos- is characterised by andesitic material com- constante
la negra
sible to reduce this regression to simple ing from the La Negra active arc (Jensen et
se sugiere
progressive water evaporation. The Callo- al. 1976), to such an extent, that one of the que una de
las razones
vian sea was locally transgressive and main reasons for the beginning of restrict- de
extended beyond the Bajocian sea north as ed circulation in the Andean basin appears restricción
en
well as south of Norte Chico (cf. Copiapó to be the obstruction and closing of straits circulación
de aguas
and Aconcagua regions). This indicates tec- by the volcanism. es
obstrucción
tonic control of water displacement. Although there is little doubt about the de los
estrechos y
During this entire regressive phase, clearly withdrawal of the waters towards the north, su cierre
opposing facies existed between the eastern we also have to consider, in the centre of por el
volcanismo.
(cratonic) and western (insular) margins of the Tarapacá evaporitic basin (Caracoles
En profeta
the basin. In the western margin is record- and Cerritos Bayos regions), the brief and también
exsite
ed the volcanic activity of the contiguous ephemeral marine ingression that caused registro de
esta
arc. Thick volcaniclastic continental de- the deposition of the Kimmeridgian car- transgresió
posits of western origin systematically bonate facies above the Millonaria Gypsum. n, facies de
plataforma
overlie the marine successions at the end of These are the Honda Formation (170 m) of seguidas
rapidament
the regression. Thus, we have to consider: the Caracoles area (Harrington 1961, e por
areniscas
- The conglomerates and sandstones with Montaño 1976), and the lower member rojas en
kimmeridgia
andesitic material characterising the western (100 m) of the Cerritos Bayos Formation no y
facies during the Bajocian in the Los Pingos (Baeza 1976), both of which represent an titoniano

ed that, as early as Bajocian, the waters of
Bajociano es la
etapa de regresión the Andean basin began to progressively
tanto en el norte
como en el sur withdraw to the north as well as south,
desde norte chico starting from the Norte Chico region
transito-el elqui between 29º and 30º30´ S (Transito and
Elqui Cordilleras). Since that time, the
Andean Basin was divided into two separate
subbasins by the Norte Chico Isthmus
(Jensen and Vicente 1979) (Fig. 4b): the
ya existía
división en Aconcagua-Neuquén Basin in the south
2 de la cuenca
andina and the Tarapacá Basin in the north. These
two basins became progressively restricted,
aconcagua-neuquen
y tarapacá until complete evaporation (Jensen et al.
1976, Jensen and Vicente 1979). During
region (Rivano 1975); important succession of intraclastic brec-
- The intercalations of andesitic conglom- cias, oolitic and oncolitic calcarenites, and
erates, breccias and tuffs present in the dolomitic micrites with scarce Ostrea sp. and
western Bajocian successions of Alto Myoconcha sp. (Montaño 1976). Considering
Tránsito (Quebrada Las Pircas and the restricted character of this recurrent
Quebrada Chanchoquin, Hillebrandt marine ingression in the ultimate, most ingresión
restringida
1973) and the Manflas area (Quebrada depressed part of the basin, a northern en la zona
mas
Cepones and Quebrada Las Maquinas at connection appears probable. This would deprimida
de la
the headwaters of Quebrada Algarrobal, confirm the hypothesis that the Tarapacá cuenca.
ingresión
Hillebrandt 1973; Quebrada Amolanas basin was raised towards the north, and that desde el
and Quebrada Calquis (Jensen and Vicente it was separated from the Arequipa basin by norte.
cuenca de
1976, Jensen 1976); a barrier at the latitude of Sierra Moreno tarapacá
se levanto
- The thick flows of porphyritic andesites (Fig. 6a). cuenca de tarapacá estaría separada de la hacia el
norte.
interbedded in the marine Bajocian of de arequipa por una barrera en sierra moreno

this last event, the water masses withdrew
northward, with the southern basin margin
CRONOLOGÍA
DE REGRESIÓN located at (Fig. 2):
- Early Bajocian: Tránsito area (28º52´S);
- Early Callovian: immediately south of
Manflas (28º17´S) (Jensen et al. 1976) and
Quebrada Paipote (Vega Redonda)
(27º08´S);
- Early Oxfordian: slightly south of Quebrada
Carrizo (26º06´S) (Jensen et al. 1976);
Sierra de Fraga (Davidson et al. 1976);
- The Callovian calcarenites and green
sandstones, rich in andesitic clasts, of
Quebrada Paipote (Vega Redonda),
Quebrada San Andrés (Cisternas and
Vicente 1976), Quebrada Asientos western
belt (Garcia 1967), that at the latitude of
Chañaral Alto include andesitic flows, some
with pillow structures (Oviedo 1977);
- Finally, the Callovian-Oxfordian facies of
REGISTROS TEMPORALES Y ESPACIALES
DE FACIES VOLCANICLÁSTICAS EN EL BORDE INSULAR
DE LAS CUENCAS DE RETROARCO EN EL NORTE DE CHILE
South (altura de maría elena)---> zona de transferencia???
n s
The regressive basin evolution south of our
area of study, i.e. at the latitude of
Neuquén, remains to be analysed. In con-
trast to the area previously analysed with
good biostratigraphic controls and a rather
well known lithostratigraphy, we have com-
paratively few precise data for the regres-
sion ages and the corresponding facies
Figure 5: Dogger extension of the deep turbidite fan of the Arequipa Basin (modified from Beaudoin and Vicente 1986).
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic...
419
 420 J. C. . V I C E N T E
variations for the Neuquén region, despite
the quality and accessibility of its outcrops
(see Fig. 3).
Although it was the “birth place” of the
South American Mesozoic stratigraphy
(Bodenbender 1892, Burckhardt 1903,
Jaworski 1915 and 1925, Gerth 1928,
Groeber 1929, Weaver 1931, Windhausen
1931, Groeber et al. 1952), the understand-
ing of Neuquén geology has been hin-
dered until de 70´s by a lithostratigraphic
nomenclature favouring facies continuity
over variation. This situation changed sub-
sequently, mainly thanks to the works of
Gulisano and collaborators who showed
the strong diachronism of many forma-
tions and adopted a scheme of deposition-
al sequences (Gulisano 1992). Many sedi-
mentological studies with a sequence-
stratigraphical approach have been carried
out in Neuquén and Mendoza (see
Legarreta et al. 1993 and Legarreta and
Uliana 1999); still missing are detailed
studies on of Late Callovian - Oxfordian
ammonite fauna in order to improve the
biozonation. existe poco conocimiento en resolución
en la biozona de amonites calloviano-
oxfordianos en la cuenca de neuquén
Evaporitic basin of terminal Oxfordian
yeso principal
del oxfordiano
The southernmost outcrops of the Yeso
es la formación Principal (Schiller 1912) or Auquilco
auquilco
Formation (Figs. 6a and 6b) (Weaver 1931,
afloramientos más
al sur están Groeber 1946) are slightly north of
poco al norte de
zapala Zapala in the Sierra de la Vaca Muerta
(Groeber et al. 1952, Stipanicic 1966,
Marchese 1971, Digregorio 1972) at the
northern part of the hill (Fig. 3). The
boundary must be placed at the latitude of
intercacalaciones Mallin del Rubio (38º40´S), where the
de red beds
en auquilco Auquilco Formation is represented by a
thin interval comprising stromatolitic
boundstones with thin red intercalations,
but may be missing locally due to erosion
(Lambert 1956, Chotin 1975, Digregorio
and Uliana 1980, Gulisano and Gutiérrez
hacia el sur
las facies regresivas
Pleimling 1995a). South of this latitude,
no tienen evaporitasthe regressive facies excluded evaporites,
por lo general
as shown in the sections in and south of
Rio Covun Co (Chotin 1975) at the south-
ern end of Sierra de la Vaca Muerta
(Groeber et al. 1952, Gulisano and
Gutiérrez Pleimling 1995a, Legarreta and
Uliana 1999), and the boreholes of the
Plaza Huincul region (Di Gregorio 1965,
facies continentales al sur de sierra de vaca muerta son consideradas
equivalentes a auquilco
Digregorio and Uliana 1980). Souh of
Zapala the continental facies of the Fortin
1° de Mayo Formation has been considered
as equivalent to the Auquilco Formation
(Gulisano et al. 1984).
The distance between the northernmost
outcrops at Portezuelo del Yesito
(31º36´S) of Cordillera de los Sapos in the
High Cordillera of San Juan and the
southernmost outcrops of Sierra de la
Vaca Muerta (38º40´S) in southern
Neuquén is 765 km, representing the lon-
gitudinal extension of the Aconcagua-
Neuquén evaporitic basin (Fig. 4b).
Within this context, it should be remem-
bered that the “Yeso Principal” precipita-
tion was the result of a slow basin evolu-
tion towards restricted circulation, and
ending in oversaturation of the water
mass by elimination of the upper body of
water and the transition to a one body
mass which reached the condition for pre-
cipitation and preservation of calcium
sulfide. This major salinity crisis resulted
for the confinement of the basin under
tectonic control which reduced drastically
its connection with the open Pacific. As
pointed by Legarreta and Uliana (1996),
the Auquilco evaporite accumulation fol-
lowed a geologically sudden (Messinian-
style) desiccation event. However, the
very volume of chemically precipitated
rocks implies that the seaways were not
completely closed and so, according to
eustatic fluctuation of sea level, the basin
could continue to be fed for a time, as in
the Mediterranean case (Rouchy 1982).
All evidence points to a quick filling of
the basin. It is therefore probable that
these evaporites were generally coeval
throughout the basin and that the thickest
deposits indicate the deepest parts of the
basin (Gulisano 1992, Legarreta and
Uliana 1999). This interpretation differs
from previous ones (Groeber et al. 1952,
Digregorio 1965 and 1972, Stipanicic
1966), which accepted different ages for
the Auquilco Formation and held that the
thickest deposits were the marginal facies
of the basin. Regarding the age of this
precipitation, the youngest faunas collect-
ed from the pre-gypsiferous levels of the
La Manga Formation at Arroyo Santa
Elena (Davidson and Vicente 1973), Rio
extensión longitudinal de cuenca evaporitica de aconcagua-neuquen
765 kilómetros
confinamiento de la cuenca fuertemente controlado por tectónica
circulación restringida pero no totalmente erradicada con el paleo pacífico y eliminación de parte superior
de los cuerpos de agua. depósitos mas gruesos de evaporitas son sectores más profundos, son procesos coevales.
edad de yeso es late oxfordian-kimmeridgian
Atuel (Stipanicic 1951), Vega de la
Veranada (Stipanicic 1966, Gulisano and
Gutiérrez Pleimling 1995b) and Sierra de
Reyes (Groeber et al. 1952, Stipanicic et al.
1975) indicate the ? Cordatum and
Plicatilis Zones. The age of the gypsum is
therefore Late Oxfordian to Early
Kimmeridgian.
With regard to the boundaries of the
evaporitic basin (Fig. 3):
- The eastern margin, at the latitude of
Neuquén, is well established by several geometría
y
boreholes (Digregorio 1972), which locate dimensione
s del
the margin close to Añelo (68º 34´ S; see margen
este de la
Gulisano 1992; Legarrreta and Uliana cuenca de
neuquén-ac
1999). From there, the coast line contin- oncagua
ued NNW and passed close to the eastern
slope of Sierra de Reyes (69º40´S). After a
slight westward displacement at the lati-
tude of Sierra Azul and Bardas Blancas
(69º48´S) where the gypsum is missing
(Stipanicic 1966, Gulisano 1992) at
Tronquimalal or Potimalal (69º35´S), the
margin followed northward to the latitude
of Río Atuel, just east of Arroyo La
Manga (69º35´W); then east of Laguna
del Diamante (69º39´W) and, finally to the
Puente del Inca region (69º52´W).
- The western margin, beginning at Mallín
de los Caballos, continues NNW, passing
Cuchilla Cura and the NW flank of the dimension
es y
Vaca Muerta anticline where the gypsum geometría
is clearly beveled (Lambert 1956, Chotin del
margen
1975); before following approximately the oeste de
la cuenca
S-N course of Rio Agrio where, at the lat- de
neuquén
itudes of Campana Mahuida (Chotin
1975) and Loncopué (Groeber et al. 1952,
see Gulisano 1992), mixed facies with thin
gypsum and dolomitic limestones indicate
proximity of the coast. To the west, the
area of Lonquimay was undoubtedly ele-
vated at that time, because the upper
Bathonian-(lower Callovian) marls are
overlain by only 50 m of volcanic sand-
stones with Cidaris sp. and superposed by
thick Upper Jurassic andesitic flows
(Burckhardt 1900b, Chotin 1975, Suárez et
al. 1988, Riccardi and Westermann 1991,
De La Cruz and Suárez 1997).
Farther north, the coast line approximate-
ly followed the meridian of Andacollo
(70º40´W). The dolomitic-calcareous
mixed facies with stromatolitic levels and
intraclastic breccias (Dellapé et al. 1979) of
 se estiman los retrocesos en los bordes e y sur,
se cotejan con ambientes continentales y lagunales proximos
barrera carbonatica es facies de vaca muerta
Rahueco, Chacay Melehue and Los
Menucos pass gradually into the continen-
tal facies of Rincón de Piedra (Zöllner and
Amos 1973) on the southern end of
mas descrip
ciones de Cordillera del Viento, leaving little doubts
las facies
costeras
about the littoral character of these
en el borde deposits. Curiously, these so called
oeste de la
cuenca “Chacay Melehue facies” (Stipanicic 1966)
were interpreted to represent the deepest
basin deposits (Groeber et al. 1952,
Stipanicic 1966); only Marchese (1971),
Davidson and Vicente (1973) and
Gulisano et al. (1984) considered that these
deposits may be indicative of the evaporit-
ic basin’s western margin.
Further north, at the 35ºS latitude, the
coastline was just west of Vergara Villagra,
i.e. on the 70º30´W meridian, as indicated
by the rapid westward thinning of the gyp-
sum in the western limb of the Río
Vergara anticline (Davidson 1971). It is
andean thrust difficult to farther follow the margin due
dificulta
el seguimientoto the Major Andean Overthrust (Vicente
dado el
overprint 1970, 1972, 1993 and 1998) which system-
que genera atically overprinted the western basin mar-
sobre los
registros gin. Since precise magnitude of that
marinos de la
cuenca overhrusting is unknown, it is difficult to
assess the exact position of the western
coastline between 35º and 31º38´S, but 10-
se calcula
que la linea de
15 km west of the overthrust front seems
costa estaría reasonable. The proof of a continuous
10-15
km mas al oceanic communication at the Atuel lati-
oeste de los
tude during this evaporitic phase, on the
actuales registros
other hand, would require a more detailed
la conexión study of the underlying deposits and of
permanente
o continua coeval evaporitic successions, in order to
con el paleo
pacífico a record any marine ingressions between the
la altura de
altuel es evaporitic cycles. But the early pre-Late
incierta,
la poca evide
Bajocian regression (Covacevich and
cia que hay Piracés 1976) that characterizes the
sugiere
que es alta Coastal Cordillera at this latitude, renders
mente
improbable this alternative improbable.
Early Oxfordian pre-eevaporitic basin
With regard to the previous boundaries of
the basin, the pre-evaporitic deposits rep-
resented by the La Manga Formation and
its equivalents occupied a slightly larger
area (Fig. 3; cf. Gulisano 1992). This is
especially evident in the southern region,
where the subsurface distribution of the
Barda Negra Formation (Digrego-
rio 1965) allows us to locate the Early
early oxfordian coastline
Oxfordian coastline south of Zapala and
immediately NW of Plaza Huincul
(Digregorio 1972), barely surpassing the
39º S latitude. These brown and green
marls and shales, interbedded with
thin beds of green sandstones, da-
ted Oxfordian by the presence of
Peltoceratoides sp. (Digregorio 1972), repre-
sent the coastal facies of La Manga
Formation (Stipanicic 1966). As on the
eastern part of the Neuquén basin (east of
Añelo) they gradually pass into the medi-
um- to coarse-grained sandstones of the
continental facies of the Sierras Blancas
Formation (Digregorio 1965). This
“Barda Negra facies” (Stipanicic 1966),
restricted to the basin´s SSE margin,
seems to be a lagoonal paleoenvironment
that developed behind the carbonatic bar-
rier. This barrier is represented by the
“Vaca Muerta facies” (Stipanicic 1966)
with its coralline calcarenites and
lumachelles with “Gryphaea cf. calceola
Quenst.”, along the eastern basin margin,
from Sierra de Vaca Muerta to beyond
Malargue via Sierra Azul and Bardas
Blancas (Stipanicic 1966).
In summary, the Early Oxfordian events,
at the southern boundary of the evaporit-
ic basin in the Zapala meridian (70ºW),
indicate a northwards regression of about
30 km, whilst on the eastern margin, at
Bardas Blancas latitude (36ºS), the regres-
sion was 15 km. On the other hand, it is
difficult to asses the coastline variations
west of Codihue at the latitude of Cerro
Media Luna where (see Chotin 1975)
there are coralline facies resembling those
at the southern end of Sierra Vaca
Muerta. The variations of this margin
were probably smaller than those of the
cratonic margin according to basic trans-
verse asymmetry of the basin and the
active tectonism of the island margin.
tectonismo activo y variaciones
Callovian basin menores estimadas en borde
insular
During the Callovian, the southern end of
the Neuquén Basin was located farther
south at about 39º15´S (Fig. 3).
Sedimentological analyses performed by
different authors (Rosenfeld 1978, Zavala
1993. Gulisano and Gutiérrez Pleim-
ling 1995a) of the Lajas and Challacó
en el calloviano el limite estaba más al sur
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 421
paralic= sedimentos marinos y continentales interdigitados
hay caracterísiticas deltaicas y braided channels
en batoniano-caloviano hay una transicion de facies marinas a de planicie
aluvial
regresion importante por probable levantamiento tectónico
Formations (Bathonian-Callovian) in
Sierra de Chacai Co has shown that this is
a typically paralic - with pronounced delta-
ic features - to braided fluvial succession.
This marked the quick transition from a
littoral marine environment, at the base, to
the pure continental facies of an alluvial
plain (Lotena Formation), at the top. The
mostly high-energy, sandy sedimentation
indicates a quick regression resulting from
an important uplift (Rosenfeld and influjo importante
de sedimentos a
Volkheimer 1979). Detailed measurements la cuenca hacia
el este y noeste,
of the oblique cross-bedding indicate a intercalación con
amonites
generally eastward and northward pale- callovianos
ocurrent regime in the northern Sierra. NNW-SSE
This, together with the more frequent LINEA COSTA
DE
marine influx from the NE and the exis- el input de
sedimentos
tence of marine intercalations with Middle desde el oeste
Callovian ammonites (Rehmannia patago- fue mas
importante que el
niensis, cf. Riccardi and Westermann 1991) del macizo
norpatagónico
at the anticline of Picun Leufu, suggests a
chacai co marca
NNW-SSE orientation of the coastline at borde suroeste
de la cuenca
this latitude. These data emphasize the
importance of the western contributions mas al sur se
documenta
compared with those generally mentioned regresion mas
antigua probable
(Groeber et al. 1952) from the southern bajociana
North-Patagonian Massif. The continental
area with major weathering was unques-
tionably located to the west, and the
Chacai Co facies marks the western basin
margin, close to its southern end (Fig. 3).
Farther south, in the Piedra Pintada region
(40º15´S), the regression was even older sucesiones del
and probably Bajocian (Fig. 3). This cla- jurasico
pliensbachiano
ssic Lower Jurassic marine succession of overprinted por
arco volcanico
southernmost Neuquén, mainly Pliens- de edad
probable entre el
bachian in age (Damborenea et al. 1975), toarciano y el
passes continuously upward into a thick bajociano
temprano
succession of pyroclastic volcano-sedi-
mentary, acid flows, sandstones and con-
glomerates (Galli 1969) of probably Late
Toarcian - Early Bajocian age. This ended
the regional marine sediments, which
Digregorio (1972) includes in the Lajas
Formation. We also point to the existing en parte de
strong analogies between this volcano-sed- chubut ocurre
este mismo
imentary succession and that of extra- overprint sobre
Andean Chubut (Musacchio and Riccardi biofacies del
pliensbachiano
1971) in Sierra de Agnia. This analogy
conduced Riccardi to consider the levels
with Piedra Pintada fossiles as biofacies of
the same age, i.e. Pleinsbachian. Here the
marine, tuffaceous Lower Jurassic (Osta
Arena Formation) passes upwards into a
422 J. C. . V I C E N T E

hollow separando cuencas

Figure 6a: Late Oxfordian paleogeography and facies distribution of the Arequipa-Tarapacá Basin. The evaporitic Tarapacá hollow was probably
separated from the Arequipa Basin by a shoal ; North of 16°S, the accuracy decrease notably owing to poorer biostratigraphic and sedimentologic
data. Tectonic shortening is not considered in the reconstruction, but its magnitude in Peru suggests that the slantwise intersection of the deltaic
pattern with the volcanoclastic facies hides a major thrust in between.
HABRÍA UN THRSUT MAYOR EN PERÚ, ENSANCHAMIENTO DE LA CUENCA
RECONSTRUCCIÓN NO TIENE EN CUENTA TASAS DE ACORTAMIENTO.
 Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 423

Figure 6b: Extension of isolated and restricted

evaporitic basins in Late Oxfordian.
 424 J. C. . V I C E N T E
regresion
toarciana thick volcanic succession (Lonco Trapial
a los 43°s
no hay registros Group of Lesta and Ferello 1972). This
marinos del
aaleniano-bajoci
suggests a late Toarcian age for the regres-
ano sion at this latitude (43º45´S). Besides, to
date no paleontological evidences for
Aalenian-Bajocian has been found in either
dominio nerítico
region (Riccardi, written com. 2003).
en zapala durante el With regard to the distribution of
caloviano
Callovian facies, there exists, south of
hacia el norte se
transforman en Zapala, a neritic domain associated with a
facies batho-callo
de shales deltaic system (Digregorio 1972). Towards
+profundo
the north it quickly passes into the
Bathonian-Callovian shaly facies of the
estas facies
profundas de shales Chacay Melehue Formation (Cangini,
forman
un cordon de + de 1968; Digregorio 1972). These relatively
700 kilómetros NS
y marcan el eje deep facies occur in an essentially contin-
de la cuenca
bathoniana-
uous belt, from Paso Pino Solo (38º35´S)
calloviana of Lonquimay to Portezuelo Flores
(desde lonquimay
a san juan) (31º45´S) of Río Pachon and mark the
axis of the Bathonian - Callovian basin.
To the east, on the cratonic margin, a wide
belt (Lotena Formation) of shelf sandy
limestones and calcareous sandstones
(Groeber et al. 1952) developed. East- and
northeast-ward, the Chacay Melehue
Formation of the Loncopué region
(38º05´S) with tuffaceous intercalations,
fluxoturbidites and levels with imbricated
olistoliths (Rosenfeld and Volkheimer
1980), and the Chacay Melehue region
(37º15´S) with tuffs, spilitic lavas with pil-
low structures (Zöllner and Amos 1973)
and turbidites with deformation struc-
tures due to slumping (Gulisano and
Gutiérrez Pleimling 1995a), indicate the
borde oeste
proximity of an active volcanic arc at the
en lonquimay western basin margin. In Lonquimay,
con arco activo
con turbiditas y Upper Bathonian (-Lower Callovian)
slumpings
facies are coastal turbidites with abundant
slope apunta al
volcanics. The western coastline was west
este y se of Loncopué, Chacay Melehue and
interdigita
con facies de Nacientes del Teno (35º10´S), where the
lutitas
(Bathonian-) Callovian consists of green
volcanic arenites with many slump levels
indicating an easterly slope (Davidson
1971; Davidson and Vicente 1973), and
eastwards (Nacientes de Santa Elena)
interfingers with shaly facies.
The eastern coastline of the southern
region followed a SW-NE direction pass-
ing more than 20 km southeast of Plaza
Huincul (Groeber et al. 1952). This is evi-
dent in the Loma Negra borehole, just
west of that locality, which shows facies
borde este del sur con orientación SW-NE
MARGEN ORIENTE CON MATERIAL ANDESÍTICO Y MARGEN ESTE CON MATERIAL PRE ANDINO, GRANITOIDES GONDWANICOS
EL YESO PRINCIPAL AUQUILCO EN OXFORDIANO TARDÍO LLEGA HASTA LOS 31°S; REGRESIÓN CONTINUA DURANTE CALLOVIANO
HASTA OXFORDIANO DEJA YESO EN NIVELES MAS RESTRNGIDOS A ORIGINALES
REGRESIÓN COMIENZA EN EL BAJOCIANO
TEMPRANO Y AVANZA HACIA EL SUR
ORIENTACIÓN DE COSTA ESTE DE CUENCA (CRATÓN)
MEDIANTE BOREHOLES CON DEPÓSITOS CONTINENTALES
Y FLEXIÓN HACIA EL NORTE HASTA LINEA DE COSTA CONECTADA
CON PUENTE DEL INCA EN MENDOZA!!!
of sandstones and argilites of deltaic ori- regression began in the Early Bajocian. BORDE
NORTE
gin, whilst to the southeast the Challacó Rivano (1975 and 1980), Hillebrandt (2000) DE
NEUQUEN
borehole shows typically continental red showed for the Los Pingos region of BASIN
INMEDIAT
sandstones and conglomerates (Digrego- Cordillera Ovalle, that in the Late Bajocian AMENTE
AL NORTE
rio 1972). East of Añelo, before reaching the northern end of the Neuquen Basin DE LOS
the 68ºW meridian, the coastline changed was located immediately north of Los PINGOS
to a NW direction, bypassing the Rio Pingos at 30º52´S. At this latitude the facies
Negro border of the Catriel region, are typically littoral with conglomerates,
because the Punta Rosada borehole sandstones and red pelites with intertidal
(68ºW, 38ºS) also showed typically conti- sedimentary structures. This indicates the FINAL
DEL
nental facies (Digregorio 1972). After end of the gulf, here reduced to no more GOLFO,
NO MAS
Buta Ranquil, the eastern coastline contin- than 3-4 km in width, and surrounding an DE 3 A 4
KM DE
ued in a N-S direction near the eastern axis of euxinic infra-littoral shales and cal- ANCHO
slopes of Sierra de Reyes and Sierra Azul, cilutites (Rivano 1975). The petrography of FACIES
LITORALE
before passing Bardas Blancas and imme- the terrigenous deposits differs between the S
RODEAN
diately east of Puchenque and Arroyo La western margin, with andesitic material, and UN EJE
Manga, finally connecting with the Puente the eastern margin, with pre-Andean mate- INFRA
LITORAL
del Inca coastline (Fig. 3). rial of rhyolites and gondwanian granitoids. EUXINICO
OX
In the Late Oxfordian, the Yeso Principal DEPLETE
D Y CON
Main regressional stages in the southern end of the evaporitic basin ended just north of SULFURO
S
Neuquén Basin Portezuelo Yesito, by 31º35´S (see Fig. 7).
MAR ABANDONO CHUBUT DURANTE EARLY TOARCIANO This implies a southwards regression of TOXICO
PARA LA
Summing up, a progressive northwards about 120 km in 18 My, i. e. an average VIDA
ACUÁTICA
regression started in extra-Andean Chubut, speed of only 0.6 cm/y, 3 times slower than
with the following main stages at central- in the southern region (1.8 cm/y).
northern Chubut and the southern end of
the Neuquén Basin:
- Late Pliensbachian-Early Toarcian: Sierra MAIN FEATURES OF
de Agnia region (43º45´S); ANDEAN JURASSIC
- Late Toarcian-Early Bajocian: Piedra PALEOGEOGRAPHY
Pintada region (40º15´ S) - southern Sierra
de Chacaico (39º25´S);
Permanence of paleogeographic and
- Middle Callovian-Early Oxfordian:
structural features
Immediately south of Zapala, at 39º -
39º10´S;
- Middle Oxfordian: Mallin del Rubio lati- We conclude that there were close coinci- CUENCAS
tude (38º40´S) - Sierra de la Vaca Muerta. dence and symmetry between the general DE
TARAPACA
This implies a distance of over 650 km in 31 transgressive and regressive movements Y
NEUQUEN
My, i. e. the average rate of regression was at the latitudes of the Andean Basin. This FUERON
of the order of 1.8 cm/y, 5 times lower than is evident from the observation that the AREAS
CON
for the transgression. We conclude that the areas of late transgression are the same as SUBSIDENC
IA
cause of this slow, northward regression those with early regression, whilst those COSNATNE,
NORTE
was epirogenic rather than orogenic. with early transgression are the same with CHICO Y
CHUBUT
Furthermore, the rate of the regression late regression. There appears there were EXTRA
diminished from the Callovian onwards. areas with permanent uplift trend along FUERON
AREAS
VELOCIDAD DE LA REGRESION ES 5 VECES MENOR
A TRANSGRESIÓN!!!!!!!!!!!1
the basin (Norte Chico Isthmus and CON ALZAMIENT
Main regressional stages in the northern end of the extra-Andean south Neuquen-Chubut) O
CONSTANT
Aconcagua-NNeuquén Basin and others with subsidence trend (Tarapacá E
Basin and Aconcagua-Neuquén Basin).
It remains to analyze the regressional fea- This permanent tectonism is all the more SUBETAPA
tures in the Aconcagua-Neuquen Basin´s surprising as it also persisted during the 2ETAPA
DE
1
northern end, i. e. north of our study area, Tithonian-Early Cretaceous cycle (Jensen DELANDINO,
and on the Norte Chico Isthmus up- and Vicente 1979). The biostratigraphic
ESTOS
lift.Between latitudes 29º and 30º30´S, the control for this later cycle is more con- TRENDS
PERSISTEN
TAMBIÉN SE ANALIZA SITUACIÓN DEL NORTE CHICO|
CAUSA EPIROGÉNICA????
 Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 425

Figura 7: Stages of the Jurassic regression at the northern end of the Aconcagua-Neuquén Basin.

426 J. C. . V I C E N T E
cise, confirming the similarities in the
main features of the trangressions and
transgresiones
TITONIANAS regressions. For example, the transgression
occured in the Tithonian at the latitude of
WTF HERMANO Quebrada Asientos (26º30´S) (Harrington
QUEBRADA
ASIENTOS 1960, García 1967, Pérez 1978), and in the
SIEMPLEMENTE
EPICO Valanginian at the latitude of Copiapó
TRANSGRESION
(28ºS) (Tavera, 1956). Symmetrically, it
ALCANZO occured in the early Tithonian at the upper
COPIAPO
EN course of Río Mendoza (33ºS) where in
VALANGINIANO
Quebrada Vargas we collected (det.
Covacevich, 1973) a fauna with Virgatos-
phinctes cf. V. andesensis (Douvillé) and aff.
“V.” erinoides (Burckhardt), Aulacosphinctes
sp. and Paraboliceratoides sp. (see also Lo
DESDE EL SUR
TITONIANO Forte 1996), whereas at the latitude of Alto
ACONCAGUA
BERRIASIANO Limari (31ºS) the age is late Berriasian
EN LIMARI
(Mpodozis and Rivano 1976) on the basis
of Spiticeras sp. and Cuyaniceras sp. In our
study area, the Early Cretaceous basin is
PATRONES
REPETITIVOS clearly narrowing towards the north. This is
EN EL
CRETÁCICO especially evident on the western slope of
TEMPRANO
Cordón de la Ramada, where the E and NE
thinning of the Lower Cretaceous calcare-
ous level and the thickening of a facies of
red sandstones indicate an important NW
ALZAMIENTO inflexion of the coastline. In summary, we
CONTINUO
SIGUE EN found for this time in Norte Chico the
CRETACICO EN
NORTE CHICO
same positive tendency as for the Jurassic.
This suggests that a type of analysis simi-
lar to the one here discussed for the
marine Jurassic could be performed on
the Tithonian-Lower Cretaceous cycle
(Andico cycle).
That permanence of paleogeographic and
structural features along the Central Andes,
with reiteration during the Tithonian-Early
Cretaceous cycle of the same patterns of
transgressions-regressions (see Legarreta
CONTROL
TECTONICO
and Uliana 1991), leaves no doubt about the
EVIDENTE basic regional tectonic control of that
EN EL RETRO
ARCO retroarc basin. Its behavior is closely subor-
ACTIVIDAD
MAGMATICA dinate to the tectonic and magmatic activity
TAMBIEN
CONTROLA
of the volcanic arc which was boundering it
on the West. Insofar as we have shown the
importance and remarkable continuity of
that volcanic arc during the course of
Jurassic, it is no longer possible to recon-
struct the basin on the basis of data coming
only from the cratonic margin even if a
wealth of petroleum data are available for
the Neuquén embayment. It will be neces-
sary to pay much more attention to the
insular margin of the basin if we don’t want
CONTROL DE LA SUBDUCCIÓN Y ARCO VOLCANICO
SOBRE CUENCAS DE RETROARCO
IMPLICA QUE SE DEBE CONOCER MAS EL BORDE INSULAR
DE LA CUENCA
to lose sight that it was basically a retroarc
basin on continental crust and became an
integral part of an intrinsically active mar-
gin which behavior is dictated by the con-
vergence and so by the variations of the
subduction process.
Dynamic of water masses: regional
tectonics versus global eustasy model
Considering the Andean Basin during the
Jurassic in a dynamic context, the progres-
sive connection of the Tarapacá and
Aconcagua-Neuquén Basins and their
subsequent separation until confinement
become evident, and the main movements
of the water masses become clear. In par-
ticular, we try to explain how the regres-
sion in the distal parts may influence the
cratonic margins of the central parts of
the basins, with transgressive facies
caused by displacement of the water
masses, so that is unnecessary to infer
important tectonic movements on the cra-
tonic margin. Examples can be found in
the Bajocian at the latitude of Copiapó
(Jensen et al. 1976) and the Callovian in
the Mercedario region (see also Alvarez
1996 a, b, c, 1997) and the southeastern
part of the Neuquén gulf, i. e. the Lotena
Formation and its associated sedimentary
subcycle (Dellapé et al. 1979). All this hap-
pened even without having to consider
any marine ingressions coming from the
Pacific through a strait in the arc or any
global sea-level rise.
In that dynamic framework where the
shifting of water masses appears at first
sight indisputably tectonic, it is clear that
the recording of assumed global eustatic
cycles remains very subordinate and diffi-
cult to identify. This is especially so
because the arc magmatic activity seems
to have also contributed considerably in
variations of sediment supply to the basin
and later interfered with the generation of
a clear signal of eustatic sea-level change.
If we consider the relative sea-level curve
from latest Triassic to Jurassic proposed
by Hallam (1991, his figure 2) for the
Andean Basin and compare it with that
established from Europe by Haq et al.
(1987) or Hallam (1988), obvious dissimi-
larities become patent. The main is the
obs: red beds incluyen toda la variedad de ambientes deposicionales no marinos:
i.e desiertos, lagos, aluviales, planicies de rios , deltas, etc
AL COMPARAR LOS NIVELES EUSTATICOS PROPUESTOS
CON LOS DE EUROPA, HAY VARIAS DIFERENCIAS NOTABLES
EN PERIODOS CONTEMPORÁNEOS
EJ: REGRESION EN OXFORDIANO+ SEDIMENTACION
CONTINENTAL KIMM EN SUDAMERICA
EUROPA---> NIVELES ALTOS EN EL NIVEL DEL MAR
ESTO IMPLICA UN LEVANTAMIENTO TECTÓNICO A ESCALA
REGIONAL EN SUDAMÉRICA
Late Jurasic Andean regressive phase with
wide spread Upper Oxfordian gypsum
overlain by mainly continental Kimme- antes conocida
ridgian a time when in Europe were rela- como:
tively very high sea-levels. This major Fase
regression in the Andean Basin is recog- diastrófica
nized from Neuquén to Northern Chile, it es decir,
fallamiento
affected an area of hundred of thousands y
plegamiento
of square kilometers and so testifies a
en este
major episode of uplift on a regional caso al este
scale. According to Hallam et al. (1986) it yconsecuenci
como
expresses a sudden eastward extension of amovimiento
de
the volcanic arc. Initially viewed as a sim- arco
del
overprint
ple diastrophic phase (Stipanicic and sobre
cuencas
Rodrigo 1970), it is now considered as a
genuine orogeny known as the Araucanian HOY HA
Event. Its compressive tectonic effects SIDO IDENTIFICA
have been for a long time underestimated DO COMO
FASE
(Vicente 1984). It is clear now that it pro- ARAUCANA
duced a widespread inversion in southern PRODUJO
Neuquen (Ploszkiewicz et al. 1984, UNA AMPLIA
Vergani et al. 1995). The famous uncon- INVERSIÓN
EN EL
formity at Cerro Lotena (Suero 1951) is a SUR DE
NEUQUEN,
classical example of that inter-Malmic DESENCAD
ENA
episode on the Dorsal de Huincul. REGRESIÓ
Synsedimentary compressive structures N
are also present north of Zapala in Sierra ESTO
PROVOCÓ
de la Vaca Muerta (Zavala 2002) and con- MIGRACIO
NES EN
sidered responsible for the northward LOS
migration of the Lajas Formation depocen- DEPOCENT
ROS DE
ter. An Intracallovian unconformity shows FORMACIO
NES
that partial inversion even began in the Late ACTIVAS
Bajocian (Covunco anticline). ESTO
HABRÍA
A symmetrical situation is found at the lat- COMENZAD
itude of Norte Chico, in the area of OBAJOCIAN EN EL
Rivadavia of the Elqui Cordillera. There O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the Upper Jurassic continental and vol-
canogenic Algarrobal Formation seals
SITUACIÓN
unconformably compresive structures SIMÉTRICA
affecting the marine Jurassic (Dedios SE EN EL
VE
1967, Mpodozis and Cornejo 1988) as NORTE CHICO,
attested by its restoration to horizontal. DISCORDA
NCIA
Evidence of a strong uplift of the Arc is SOBRE
DEPÓSITO
proved by the thickness and coarseness of S
the fanglomerates of the Rio Da- MARINOS JURASICOS
mas Formation of Central Chile High UPPER POR
Cordillera, a typical depositional system of JURASICO
CONTINET
alluvial fans developed during the AL
ALGARROB
Kimmeridgian and interpreted as the prox- AL
imal facies of a foredeep against an uplifted FM RIO
volcanic source area (Charrier 1981), which DAMAS,
MUESTRAN
graded eastward to the distal red beds of ALUVIALES
CERCANOS
the Tordillo Formation in Argentina. A
Regarding the Coast Range of the Norte FOREDEEPDE ARCO
LEVANTAD
KIMMERIDGIANO DE RIO DAMAS GRADA AL ESTE O
A LA FORMACIÓN TORDILLO (RED BEDS)

malm hiatus en costa de norte chico y zona central, erosion significativa, meteorizacion (suelos rojos)
discordancia angular notable en depositos neocomianos, disponiendose a veces en el
antearco triasico esquistoso. el plutonismo intenso del jurásico, y las zonas de falla y daño
asociados al emplazamiento borraron los registros sedimentarios + metamorfismo sintectónico
TODO ESTO PARTE DE LA OROGENIA ARAUCANA!!!!!!
Chico and Central Chile, it is customary to
speak of a “Malm hiatus” (Thomas 1958).
It comes out by a significant erosion, a
deep rubefaction and a conspicuous
unconformity of the Neocomian beds.
Locally the erosion is such that these
deposits lie direct on schistose Triassic of
the forearc (Moscoso et al. 1982, Rivano
and Sepúlveda 1991). The extensive
Upper Jurassic plutonism which intruded
this range (Rivano et al. 1985, Gana and
Tosdal 1996) and the syntectonic meta-
morphism and shear zones associated
with their emplacement (Godoy and
Loske 1988, Irwin et al. 1988) must be added
in order to appreciate the entire Araucanian
Orogeny in the midst of the Arc.
The second extensive lowstand pointed
out by Hallam’s eustatic curve deals with
the Bathonian. For a long time it was
believed in the absence of Bathonian in
South America and supposed a general
regression for that time (Harrington
1962). But this age was underestimated
corrección for biostratigraphic reasons linked to the
de edades
de supuesta
endemic character of Andean ammonites
ausencia
bathoniana
and the lack of Cardioceratidae and
en america scarcity of Parkin-sonidae. Recent studies
mediante of continuous stratigraphic sections going
correlacion
de ammonitesfrom Upper Bajocian to Callovian in shaly
endemicos
facies as in the Domeyko Cordillera or in
the western Neuquén have allowed to
establish a zonation on the ground of
Andean Eury -cephalitinae and to pro-
pose its correlation with the standard
zones (Chong et al. 1978, Riccardi 1985,
Riccardi et al. 1988, Riccardi and
Westermann 1991). These sections, as in
our study area in the Río Los Patos and
Alma Negra Types (Fig. 4 of Vicente
2005), do not show any significant change
in their bathymetry during this stage.
However, they were deposited in water
too deep to record minor fluctuation of
the sea level. In southern Peru, the
en peru Bathonian is even the stage of greatest
el batoniano subsidence in the Arequipa Basin (Vicente
es la
epoca de 1989). Ardill et al. (1998) already have sug-
mayor
subsidencia gested that the fall was of low magnitude
en la cuenca
de arequipa and notably less than the one argued by
Hallam (1991).
Regarding Hallam’s important Andean
transgressive pulses in the Hettangian,
early and late Sinemurian, late
otra vez se refuerza control tectónico sobre transgresiones
Pliensbachian - early Toarcian, early
Bajocian and early Callovian and his
attempts to correlate those with episodes
of sea-level rises elsewhere in the World,
these results are too strongly linked to the
hazards of sampling and the lack of real
and systematic 3rd-order sequences analy-
sis with paleobathymetric interpretations
to be considered unquestionable. Without
taking part in the controversy raised by
Miall (1992 and 1994) about the Exxon
global cycle chart (Haq et al. 1987) con-
cerning its illusory precision “because it is
greater than that of the best available
chronostratigraphic techniques” and the
danger of circular reasoning in using it as
a template for stratigraphic correlation
since “almost all stratigraphic events can
be found to correlate successfully with
this chart when allowance is made for
error”, it is clear that in the Andean context
an insufficiant attention has been paid to
the preponderant part played by regional
tectonics on the dynamic of water masses.
Concerning the observed pattern of trans-
gression, it expresses more the post-rift
flooding of a subsiding retroarc basin than
real transgressive pulses.
Mutti et al. (1994) emphasized the nature
of the Andean retroarc basin as a typical
barred basin with limited connection to
the open ocean, whose depositional
sequences were strongly controlled by the
filter or amplifier effect and display pro-
duced by the relative elevation, in space
and time, of the sea floor in the seaways
and straits connecting it with the Pacific
Ocean. In particular, their conceptual dia-
grams show how sea level fluctuations
occurring below the shoal separating the
forearc from the retroarc will not be
recorded in the basin or, on the contrary,
filtered (only high stand recorded) when
fluctuations contain it. That explains the
distinctive characteristics observed in the
sequence-stratigraphic setting of the
Jurassic Neuquén Basin with respect to
those described in sequence-stratigraphic
models currently in use. Though their
model considers mainly eustatic varia-
tions, this does not preclude the tectonic
mobility of these straits. Our analysis sug-
gests that, most likely, the main sea floor
fluctuations in the seaways across the arc
MUTTI ET AL 94, DEFINE AL RETROARCO COMO BARRED BASIN
(BUSCAR DEFINICÓN PARA PAPER), CONEXION RESTRINGIDA AL OCEANO
AGUAS ANOXICAS, EVAPORITICAS Y EN CASOS MUY ESTÉRILES
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 427
were tectonic and magmatic.
Numerous authors performing sequence-
stratigraphical analysis have nevertheless
tried to interpret sequence boundaries in
the Central Andes in term of relative sea-
level fluctuation and to correlate them
with the global eustatic chart. This was
often attempted with an amazing preci-
sion as in the case of the Neuquén basin
(Legarreta et al. 1993, Legarreta and
Uliana 1996) and the Domeyko basin
(Ardill et al. 1998). It must be pointed out
that these attempts were based exclusively
on longitudinal correlations without care
of the along-strike dynamism specific to
these basins. Moreover, as concerns the
particular case of the Domeyko basin, it is
clear from our point of view that these SE HABRIA
SUBESTIMADO
authors (Ardill et al. 1998) have greatly LA BATIMETRÍA
FUERTEMENTE
underestimated the real bathymetry of the DE DOMEYKO
basin and interpreted as erosional
shoreface deposits many typical turbiditic ARDILL HABRIA
INTERPRETADO
facies which in no case indicate a basin- DEPOSITOS
TURBIDITAS
DE
ward shift in facies and can not be imput- EROSIONALES
COMO
ed to a forced regression lowstand. Just as, DE SHOREFACE
according to Jaillard et al. (1990), they
refer to a marked Upper Oxfordian
unconformity in southern Peru we never
learnt about.
Weak endemism in biogeography
It is interesting to compare the scheme of
longitudinal evolution of the Andean Basin
with the ammonite paleobiogeographic
data. These are available at the generic level
from the reviews of faunal relationships
(Hillebrandt 1970 and 1972, Riccardi 1991a,
Hillebrandt et al. 1992, Westermann 2000)
for the Lower Jurassic (Hillebrandt 1979,
2000 and 2002), the Middle Jurassic
(Westermann and Riccardi 1976, 1984 and
1985; Westermann 1980, 1981 and 1996;
Gröschke and Hillebrandt 1993, Hille-
brandt and Gröschke 1995) and Oxfordian
(Stipanicic et al. 1975, Melendez et al. 1989,
Gygi and Hillebrandt 1991).
The rapid transgression with remarkable
continuity of the Andean Basin and the
important exchanges through the straits
(Ibague, Olmos, Taltal and Curepto) may be
related to the character of the faunas: In the
“South American Lias, from north to south
and from east to west, there are not found
 428 J. C. . V I C E N T E
SE REQUIERE ESTUDIO PARA COMPROBAR SI EXISTIERON
ENDEMISMO DE AMONITES EN ACONCAGUA NEUQUEN
CONEXIONES MARINAS BREVES CON EL PALEO PACIFICO
NO HAY MUCHAS DIFERENCIAS COMPOSICIONALES EN FAUNAS DE y decrecimiento de faunas cosmopolitas y tetis
DURANTE EL PROCESO DE SECADO DE LA CUENCA DE
AMMONITES DE LA MISMA EDAD EN N-S Y W-E esterman y riccardi plantean dos subprovincias de ammonites|
TARAPACÁ

many compositional differences in the basins. However, Westermann and sions may enable to show the presence of
ammonite faunas of beds of the same age” Riccardi (1985, fig. 5) noted a decrease in short marine entrances during the basin’s
LOWER JURASSIC
FAUNAS (Hillebrandt 1979). The Andean Lower the number of Tethyan and Cosmopolitan drying process.
comprenderian
una provincia
Jurassic ammonite faunas comprise a uni- genera and the occuence of strict There was a lasting Pacific influence dur-
uniforme form province with connections to Tethyan endemics in the Aconcagua-Neuquén ing practically the whole history of the HABRIA
EXISTIDO
con conecciones
con faunas del faunas –through eastern Tethys first and Basin compared with the Tarapacá Basin Andean Basin. If some differences could UNACONEXIÓN
tetis, a traves del
este del tetis primerothe Hispanic Corridor later-during and so argued for a distinction between be shown between the Tarapacá and DESDE
y el corredor DES DE EL
hispanico luego Hettangian - Early Toarcian times and with two subprovinces (see also Westermann Aconcagua-Neuquén basins for the PLIENSBAC
HIANO A
durante el
hettanguiano al
North America in the Early Pliensbachian - 1996). A similar conclusion is reached by Callovian-Oxfordian, these probably TRAVÉS
toarciano tempranp Toarcian (Hillebrandt 1979, 2002, Riccardi DEL
Damborenea (2002) concerning Bivalves occurred at the specific level. CORREDOR
y con
importante 1991a). Although diversity is relatively low since she notes “further north (northern Finally, these good biogeographic evi- HISPANO
ACTUANDO
presencia en norte
américa and Phylloceratinae and Lytoceratinae Chile and Peru) there are very few (if dences for sporadic exchange between COMO
UN MAR
en el pliensbachiano
toarciano occur only sporadically, probably as a result any) Austral elements and the Tethyan the eastern Pacific and western Tethys EPICONTIN
ENTAL
of restrictions in faunal exchange through influence is more evident”. So, save the since the Plienbachian bears out the idea SOMERO
baja biodiversidad
the Andean volcanic arc. East Pacific faunal handicap of Tethyan elements to migrate of a Hispanic Corridor (Cratonic proto-
seria producto differentiation reached a maximum in the very south, this compels us to conclude Atlantic) which, as a shallow epiconti-
de restricciones
en el intercambio Pliensbachian and was less pronounced that the straits through the arc had an nental seaway, allowed fauna migrations
faunal
a traves del arco during the Toarcian, when most genera and active role in the exchange during that (Smith 1983, Hallam 1983 and 1994,
volcánico andino
some species were pandemic. time. It seems therefore that the faunas Jansa 1991, Damborenea 2000). This
diferenciacion en el During the Middle Jurassic (Westermann migrated freely along the south-eastern leads to look with some reserve the pale-
pacifico este
alcanzó un maximo and Riccardi 1976 and 1985, Riccardi Pacific margin and periodically penetrat- ogeographic map of the western Tethys
en el pliensbachiano
y fue menos 1991b, Hillebrandt et al. 1992, Westermann ed the Tarapacá and Aconcagua- presented and discussed by Bassoullet et
pronunciada
en el toarciano 2000) open faunal connections with the Neuquén basins during the regressive al. (1993) for the Middle Toarcian which
cuando la mayoria
de generos
western Tethys existed at the Toarcian- phase. In this regard, rather than study denies any connection. So, this favors the
y especioes
eran pandémicos
Aalenian boundary, the end of the Early the regressive features on the cratonic Jaillard et al. (1990)’s Tethyan model.
and the beginning of the Late Bajocian, and margin, the way to study how these SE FAVORECE MODELO TETIS DE JAILLARD ET AL 90
JURASICO MEDIO:
conexiones in the late Early-Middle Callovian, whilst straits worked is through the variations in Critics of the Dorsal del Chubut
faunisticas abiertas
con tetis endemic and east-Pacific genera present salinity in the basin and, especially, in the
del oeste
entre el toarciano-
during the Late Bajocian – early Early evaporitic successions. Considering the paleogeographic con-
aaleniano, bajociano Callovian indicate intermittent or restricted Thus, there are reasons for assuming that nections inferred for the late Early
tempano final y
bajociano tardio inicialfaunal exchanges. Late Bathonian-Callovian the so called Bathonian “Yeso Inferior” Jurassic between Neuquén and extra-
calloviano medio
temprano Andean genera were also present in New (Tabanos Formation) (Stipanicic 1966) Andean Chubut (Lesta and Ferello 1972)
periodos endemicos Zealand (Westermann et al. 2002) indicating widely distributed in the Jurassic succes- and the notion of a single Neuquén- conexion
en este del pacifico
bajociano tardio-
an overlap of east-Tethys and east-Pacific sions of W and NW Neuquen (Dellapé Chubut basin in the Late Pliensbachian - neuquen
chubut
calloviano temprano; faunas. Diversity shows a maximum in the and Pando 1976 in Dellapé et al. 1979), Toarcian (Fig. 13b of Vicente 2005), we durante
indican periodos de late
intercambios fauna Early Bajocian and a minimum in the (Early) from Rio Atuel (Gerth 1925, Groeber et have to discuss the Dorsal de Chubut pliensbac
restringidos
o intermitenetes Callovian. This trend is correlated with an al. 1952) to Sierra Vaca Muerta (Groeber concept, introduced by Aubouin and hian-
toarciano
en late bathonian- increasing number, first of exclusively 1921, Lambert 1956, Stiapanicic 1951), Borrello (1970) and Chotin (1975).
calloviano muy
temprano, generos
endemic, and later of East Pacific and attests to a first salinity crisis in the We submit that the notion of a
presentes en andino Pacific genera. In the Oxfordian, the Neuquen Basin. This was probably Precambrian basement high (dorsal) with
y nueva zelanda
overlap entre Andean fauna bear close resemblances to caused by a brief interruption of the NNW direction, which connected the
faunas
de tetis este y those of Europa and the western Tethys. strait communication with the Pacific. north Patagonian Massif with basement
pacifico este.
The almost total absence of the Conditions were similar in the Tarapacá of the coastal region of Concepción at
en oxfordiano “Leiostraca”, Phylloceratidae and Lytocera- Basin, where the carbonate deposits of the latitude of Bariloche, and separated
fauna andina
es cercana con tidae, could also be due to isolation from Honda Formation (Harrington 1961) the Andean Basin from the Magallanes
la del oeste de tetis oceanic influences (cf. Hillebrandt et al. overlying the Millonaria Gypsum in the Basin (relé sur-argentino or of Bariloche,
europea y

se cree tambien
posible aislamiento
1992).
del oceano Summing up, it is evident that the faunal
connections recorded until the middle
Oxfordian (Plicatilis Zone) do not reflect
distinctly at the ammonitide generic level
the regression beginning in the Bajocian
and resulting in the subdivision of the
Andean Basin in two independent sub-
Caracoles (Montaño 1976) and Cerritos
Bayos (Baeza 1976) region, point to a
brief post-evaporitic marine ingression.
However, it is difficult in this case to
decide between an eventual origin
through the arc and a more probable
south-Peruvian marine ingression. A
detailed study of the evaporitic succes-
in Aubouin and Borrello 1970), suffered
from a significant lack of information on
the Patagonian Cordillera. Its definition
as “high zone where (from the end of
Triassic onwards) nothing will be sedi-
mented” ... and furthermore, “not affect-
ed by volcanism” and on which should
end ... “as a finger glove” the Andean

SUMARIO. NO REFLEJA DISTINCIONES MAYORES EN
DIFERENCIACION DURANTE REGRESIONES
DATO EN CONTRA DE SUBDIVISIONES DE CUENCAS
TARAPACA Y NEUQUEN
INGRESIÓN SUBETAPA 2 EN PROFETA seria desde peru en
vez de a traves del arco,
caso contrario a neuquen donde se estipulan desconecciones
periodicas con mar abierto mediante estrechos EN TEORÍA HABRÍA MAS ENDEMISMO EN ACONCAGUA NEUQUÉN
QUE EN DOMEYK TARAPACÁ

Basin (Chotin 1975, p. 75) is barely com-
patible with current knowledge.
continuidad de It suffices to recall the continuity and
volcanismo
jurasico importance of the Jurassic volcanics
en
cordillera nor along the North Patagonian Cordillera
patagónica
and the indisputable southwards prolon-
gation (at least until 47º S) of the calcal-
kaline arc. This is supported by the men-
tioned record by Cuerda et al. (1981) of a
Lower Jurassic bivalve fauna in the vol-
cano-sedimentary Aluminé Formation
(39º20´S regarded as Pliensbachian by
Pérez and Reyes (1977), and the dating of
the Piltriquitrón Formation (42ºS) by
Lizuain (1980), also as Lower Jurassic by
a bivalve fauna. The Aluminé Formation
is securely correlated with the Millaqueo
Formation of the Huemul Group
(Gonzalez Bonorino 1974) of the Nahuel
Huapi southern region and the Montes
de Oca Formation (Gonzalez Diaz 1979)
for the northern region, as well as with
the El Fuerte Formation (Greco 1975) of
the Monte Tronador region (41º15´S)
and the outcrops of Cordón de Leleque
(42º30´S) – not to mention the Futaleufú
Group of Thiele et al. (1979) for the
Chilean sector (43º19´S) and the Jurassic
volcanics described by Haller (1979) for
the Argentinean sector west of Trevelín.
continuidad Considering also the continuity of the
de arco
volcánico entrevolcanic arc between 43º and 47ºS shown
43-47 sur
by Haller and Lapido (1980), whose
hace 170 ma activity began in the late early Jurassic
actividad desde
(171 ± 5 Ma, K-Ar) and continued until
hasta late jurassic
the late Jurassic, it is plain to see that few
continuacion de
paleogeografia doubts remain about the continuation
desde
39 a 47 sur between 39º and 47ºS of this essential fea-
ture of Andean paleogeography (Lizuain
1999, Giacosa and Márquez 1999).
continuidad de Added to this continuity of island vol-
volcanismo en
islas canism is the Cretaceous plutonism of
+
batolito the North Patagonian batholith as shown
patagonico
cretacico
by the absolute ages (Toubes and
Spikerman 1973, Stipanicic and Linares
1975, Halpern and Fuenzalida 1978,
Gonzalez Diaz and Valvano 1979,
Gonzalez Diaz 1982, Rapela et al. 1987,
Latorre 2001). In summary, this was a
se habla de
dorsal
true magmatic dorsal that was continuous
magmatica to the south. The volcanic nature seems
volcanes to have evolved gradually to more acidic
se volverian
mas acidos types. In fact this development may
con el tiempo
express partly the paleogeographic obliq-
disposicion andesitica ESTE
y acida OESTE es similar en esta region similar a norte chico
modelo de transicion entre cuencas andinas a lo presente en magallanes
uity of the arc. If the zonation observed
at the Norte Chico latitude (Vicente
1976) is compared, the acidic belt typifies
the arc westernmost part, as the andesitic
belt occurs mostly to the east in extra-
Andean Chubut.
In summary, it is clear that during the
Jurassic a Precambrian dorsal did not exist
which, beginning in Bariloche, separated
the Andean system from the Magallanes
system. Rather there is continuous grad-
ual change from one system to the other
as already pointed out (Vicente 1970). It
seems therefore advisable to abandon the
supposition of an Andean system that
was unrelated to the Magallanes system
(Aubouin and Borrello 1970), and instead
support the more fruitful hypothesis of a
Patagonian transition favouring the pro-
gressive appearance of alpine tectonic
characteristics. Further work remains to
be done to precisely establish where and
how are represented the forms and lati-
tudes of features such as flyschs, ophio-
lites, nappes and regional metamorphism.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Regression during the upper Jurassic
obeyed to an exactly reverse pattern as
the one observed during the lower
Jurassic transgressive process. Sectors
with late transgression became those
with early regression while those with
early transgression show a later regres-
sion. In such a way that the Norte Chico
Isthmus (29°S to 30°30’S) and the extra-
Andean south Neuquén-Chubut area
(41°S to 47°S) appear as precociously
emerged zones from the Bajocian. This
carried again a split up between the
Tarapacá and Aconcagua-Neuquén
basins until their complete drying up in
the late Oxfordian following their
restricted circulation. In short, there
were areas with permanent uplift trend
along the basin (Norte Chico Isthmus
and extra-Andean south Neuquén-
Chubut areas) and others with subsiding
trend (Tarapacá Basin and Aconcagua-
Neuquén Basin). That close coincidence
and symmetry between the general trans-
gressive and regressive movements
demonstrate its indisputable tectonic
sectores con trends permanentes de alzamiento, norte chico y sur
neuquen-chubut
sectores con hundimiento constante cuencas de tarapaca y aconcagua-neuquen
Dinamic paleogeography of the Jurassic... 429
control tectonico indiscutible en ciclos transgresion regresion
igual durante transgresion breve del titoniano
heritage (Vicente 2001). Especially as a
similar study for the Tithonian-Lower
Cretaceous cycle suggests persistence of
this logic.
In that context, the simple displacement desplazamie
of water masses during the regressive nto de aguas
durante
process in the distal, precociously uplift- regresion
por
ed, parts of the basins, may lead to trans- alzamiento
de sectores
gression on the cratonic margins of the de cuencas
central part of the basins without having (arco)
podria
to consider any additional ingression haber
generado
from the Pacific or any global sea-level transgresion
es en los
rise. This dynamic view leads to favor bordes
cratonicos
tectonics and magmatic activity as main de las
driving forces in the displacement of cuencas sin
depender
water masses in the Andean Basin, at the de alzas en
los niveles
cost of a static view based on global eustaticos
globales o
eustatic events. That accounts for our del pacifico
solamente
rather critical opinion on attempts to
correlate at Andean level boundary
sequences with the global eustatic chart.
As regards the paleogeographic maps
mapas
presented in this work, it should be noted paleogeográficos
that no palinspastic restoration was presentes no
consideran
intended; we only mentioned shortening restauraciones
palinpasticas y
rates when locally known. There is no solo se exponen
consensus about shortening values along
tasas de
acortamiento
cuando son
the Andean Main Range and estimates conocidas
vary considerably from an author to localmente
another. This is particularly notable in
recent works where tectonic models
often take precedence over objectivity
and do not account for the real tectonic
style. Moreover, in spite of some uncer-
tainties, we attached great importance on se debe
reconocer
the so called major Andean overthrust importancia
which as a retroarc thrust has tectonical- mayor del
overthrust del
ly overprinted in our opinion most of the arco sobre las
cuencas en el
western half of the basin. Insofar as the sistema andino
y su overprint
actual structure of the Main Cordillera is
rather rectilinear when exists obvious dif-
ferential of shortening along-strike
inherited from the Jurassic paleogeogra-
phy and when Norte Chico and south
Neuquén areas are viewed as pins for the
structures, it is clear that unfolding struc- arco jurasico
tures reveals a Jurassic Arc convex algo convexo
hacia el pacífico
towards the Pacific between the pin
ESTO DEBO
points. Finally, if an analogue must be RECONSTRUIRL
O BIEN
found between the Jurassic Andean
Paleogeography and an example of mod-
ern insular arc, it is with the western part
of the Indonesian Arc that it identifies
the best. In particular, location of the
sistema similar en la actualidad!!!!
430 J. C. . V I C E N T E
Sunda strait between the great islands of
Sumatra and Java reminds the position of
the Taltal and Curepto straits through La
Negra Arc, while the width of the Java
Sea looks like the Neuquén Basin.
Undoubtedly, their is much to get from
this comparison especially concerning
geophysical data which could be extrapo-
lated to the Andean Jurassic system.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is deeply indebted to A.
Riccardi for his invitation to contribute
with this paper. Together with G.E.G.
Westermann, he had a great part in the
translation and update of an early
Spanish draft of this paper. In course of
this process we have particularly appreci-
ated his very critical look and disinterest-
ed advices. The manuscript was also
greatly improved during the peer-review
process by the helpful and constructive
comments. The author’research had the
benefit of long stay as visiting professor
at the Universities of Chile (Santiago)
and San Agustin of Arequipa (Peru)
within the framework of cooperative
agreements between the French, Chilean
and Peruvian Foreign Offices. This made
possible a much fruitful collaboration
with South American colleagues and stu-
dents. Recent missions received a finan-
cial support of the Department of
International Relations of the University
P. and M. Curie of Paris. Finally, we wish
to dedicate this review in memorial of
late V. Covacevich which contribution in
determining our faunas was essential.
WORKS CITED IN THE TEXT
Alvarez, P.P. 1996 a. Bioestratigrafía del
Jurásico inferior de la cuenca de la Ramada,
Alta Cordillera de San Juan (Argentina).
Revista Española de Paleontología 11(1):
35-47, Madrid.
Alvarez, P.P. 1996 b. Jurassic ammonite assem-
blages of the Principal Cordillera of San
Juan, Argentina. En A.C. Riccardi (ed.)
Advances in Jurassic Research, Transtec
Publications Ltd, GeoResearch Forum 1-2:
45-54, Zurich.
Alvarez, P.P. 1996 c. Los depósitos triásicos y
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